Media Allowed to Witness Return of War Casualty

[FourScore]

Source: NYT

For the first time since an 18-year ban on news coverage of returning war dead was lifted, the media will witness the arrival Sunday of a soldier killed overseas.

After receiving permission from family members, Dover Air Force Base in Delaware will be opened for the media to observe the return of the flag-covered coffin carrying the body of 30-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers of Hopewell, Va. Myers was killed April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan, when he was hit with an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense said.

Myers was a member of the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron with the Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, England, one of the bases the U.S. Air Force uses in the country. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery three weeks ago in recognition of his efforts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Department of Defense said. The ceremony was expected to begin at 11 p.m.

The new Pentagon policy gives families a choice of whether to admit the press to ceremonies at Dover, home to the nation's largest military mortuary and the entry point to the U.S. for service personnel killed overseas...

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04/05/us/AP-Pentagon-War-Dead.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. IT. IS. ABOUT. FUCKING. TIME.

When people die in the name of their country they should not be hidden from the people who sent them.

[Igel]

21. Perhaps they'll open the casket.

When people die in the name of their country they should not be hidden from the people who sent them.

Having established the principle, the rest is just haggling over the extent.

[SpartanDem]

2. Long, long overdue

for this change in policy. It's time that we give these soliders the true respect they deserve.

[ddss75]

3. i dont know

I just hope that the whole process remains respectful. Part of the rationale for the media ban came about due to the shameful way returning G.I.s were treated when the came home from Vietnam. I don't want to see that happen again.

[bluevoter4life]

5. There seems to be a renewed sense of respect

For our men and women in uniform. The majority of the American people disagree with this war and understand that the soldiers had no choice in the matter. I don't think you will see the level of intimidation you saw during Vietnam. Not unless they allow Fred Phelps near Dover.

[LynnTheDem]

9. Actually that is incorrect. The ban came about because of George bUsh sr,

when he was shown split-screen joking around & having such a GOOD TIME...while the other half of the screen showed the returning deadvia the Gulf War. Vietnam vets were not treated "shameful".


The ban on news media photos was put in place by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 during the Gulf War and upheld by President George W. Bush.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-26-pentagon-coffins_N.htm

[FudaFuda]

11. It was upheld by Clinton too, right?

Bosnia, Somalia ... the ban was in place during those actions too, correct? The article says 'for the first time in 18 years."

Call it what it is. And thumbs up for Pres. Obama for removing this restraint on the press and free speech.

[LynnTheDem]

12. Dems tried to have it overturned under Clinton; republics in Congress

said hell no.

[FudaFuda]

14. It's a policy decision, i.e. executive branch.

Maybe in some way you're right, but Congress doesn't decide this do they?

[Igel]

22. Precisely.

Obama had better take care to always know when a coffin is coming in at Dover, lest he be on camera and having a good time, wherever he is.

Vietnam had nothing to do with the ban.

[Skittles]

10. a lot of that was media-driven crap

[LynnTheDem]

13. Crap? Showing the then-president laughing it up at the same time troops

were returning home in boxes for his lying us & them into the Gulf War. That's not "media crap"; that was the media actually showing facts for all to see.

[Skittles]

15. I didn't say ALL of it

I said a LOT of it - get some reading comprehension skills

[LynnTheDem]

17. That is why the first bush regime banned the media from Dover.

So what's the rest of it?

[Skittles]

18. I was responding to a comment about the VIETNAM WAR

[Tempest]

19. 18 years ago was long after the Vietnam war

The ban came into place because Bush Sr. was caught having a good time when U.S. soldiers were being killed in the first Gulf war.

[bluevoter4life]

4. FINALLY

Maybe when the American public sees the horrors of war, seeing our boys come home in pine boxes, they will wake up to the fact that war is never the answer.

[ddss75]

7. which war

Are you talking about both of the conflicts, or just the Iraqi invasion? I am a veteran, and I view the way the previous administration handled the Iraqi war up until the surge as disastrous. There was no reason to sacrifice men to make a point, and that is what it became. The right and the left posturing over electoral votes, with the American Serviceman caught in the middle.

[bluevoter4life]

16. More specifically, I am referring to the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan

[iandhr]

6. new Pentagon policy gives families a choice

This is how it should be. IF a family does not want the coffin photographed then it should not happen.

[Submariner]

8. Respect for the Fallen

They practiced Duty, Honor, and Country, and made the ultimate sacrifice. They deserve this Honor.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

20. Oh no, I know worry about barbara bush's beautiful little mind, the horror. nt