A Coffin, a Flag, a Photograph

[Pirate Smile]

Source: The New York Times


The coffin bearing Air Force Staff Sgt. Philip Myers, who was killed in Afghanistan on April 4, arrived at Dover Air Force Base on Sunday night. It was the first such event to which the press was given access since 1991.

For the first time in 18 years, the Pentagon granted the press access on Sunday night to cover the arrival of a coffin to Dover Air Force Base from overseas.

The coffin, draped in a flag and bearing the body of Air Force Staff Sgt. Philip Myers of Hopewell, Va, was unloaded from a government aircraft by the military honor guard. The 30-year-old Mr. Myers was killed by an improvised explosive device near Helmand Province in Afghanistan on April 4, according to the Defense Department.

A ban on news coverage of returning war dead, which had been in place since the Persian Gulf War in 1991, was lifted by the Obama administration following a review of the policy by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

In the hours leading up to the transfer of Mr. Myers’s corpse, Air Force officials received the consent of his family members — per the new policy — to grant members of the news media permission to be on hand.



Read more: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/a-coffin-a-flag-a-photograph/?hp

[BlooInBloo]

1. RIP.

[LiveLiberally]

2. RIP & Bless the family for allowing us all to bear witness n/t

[Muttocracy]

4. Agreed. nt

[No Elephants]

21. Indeed.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. You're home now, Sgt. Myers -

No one will ever lie to you or hurt you again.

RIP.

[Arctic Dave]

5. RIP.

[LynnTheDem]

6. It's interesting the way our "media" mentions the ban but not WHY the ban.

They don't mention how George bUsh sr was joking around & laughing it up...at the same time our uniformed citizens were coming home in boxes, as shown split-screen.


It's a family trait; "Laura and I had a great time!"

[ColbertWatcher]

8. You wouldn't happen to have a screenshot of that would you? n/t

[LynnTheDem]

10. Just verbage, but I've seen the split-screen shot, so someone has it.

In 1989, the television networks showed split-screen images of Mr. Bush sparring and joking with reporters on one side and a military honor guard unloading coffins from a military action that he had ordered in Panama on the other.
Mr. Bush, a World War II veteran, was caught unaware and subsequently asked the networks to warn the White House when they planned to use split screens. The networks declined.
At the next opportunity, in February 1991 during the Persian Gulf war, the Pentagon banned photos of returning coffins.

Writing in the American Journalism Review, Jamie McIntyre, a former CNN senior Pentagon correspondent, makes clear that the president was unaware that while he was conducting his press conference, “the first casualties of the assault were arriving at Dover, and several television networks (ABC, CBS and CNN) had switched to a split-screen image, juxtaposing the jocular president against the grim reality of the invasion he ordered.” McIntyre then writes ruefully: “It was the beginning of the end not just of live coverage, but of any photography or media coverage of war dead returning to the United States.”
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=CBA8808B-B5A9-441D-8FA5-D668226BFFCE

And here we go; LAT mentions the real reason -REPUBLICAN POLITICS- why the ban came into place.

President George H.W. Bush's administration imposed the ban on media coverage of the arrival of fallen troops' remains at Dover Air Force Base during the Gulf War in February 1991. It came about after a controversy arose when Bush gave a news conference at the same moment the first U.S. casualties were returning to Dover the day after the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989, and three television networks carried the events live on split screen, with Bush appearing at one point to joke while on the opposite screen the solemn ceremony unfolded.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/17/nation/na-dover17?s=g&n=n&m=Broad&rd=www.google.ca&tnid=1&sessid=7f66481cb8724abc346d38591bb11a7d58ad8eae&uuid=474b052b39acc85ba9143b3c6e781e4dbd164c3d&pgtp=article&eagi=&cat=news+%26+current+events&page_type=article&exci=2009_02_17_nation_na-dover17&pg=1


http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB152/

[sce56]

13. I was in Yongsan Garrison, Seoul when that happened

But worse yet was Jr

The president could be seen bending over to peer at the floor of the Oval Office

At a black-tie dinner for journalists, Mr Bush narrated a slide show poking fun at himself and other members of his administration.

One pictured Mr Bush looking under a piece of furniture in the Oval Office, at which the president remarked: "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be here somewhere."

After another one, showing him scouring the corner of a room, Mr Bush said: "No, no weapons over there," he said.

And as a third picture, this time showing him leaning over, appeared on the screen the president was heard to say: "Maybe under here?"

Mr Bush's election challenger Senator John Kerry described the president's attitude as "stunningly cavalier".

"If George Bush thinks his deceptive rationale for going to war is a laughing matter, then he's even more out of touch than we thought," he said in a written statement.

[MADem]

12. I am no cheerleader for Poppy, but that was a media "gotcha" on him.

He was having a presser two states away--it's not like he was standing on the tarmac cracking jokes. It was done to get ratings. Also, Bush was fighting that wimp factor, even post Gulf War. The media does love to "pile on."

They did the same thing with Clinton. I remember he was at some funeral, and, like we all do, you meet up with people at these things and you have a chat and sometimes a laugh. They went after him for that, as well.

We see them ripping on Obama because he had to reach down to shake Abdallah's hand.

There was no context to the juxtaposition, but because it ran in rotation for a day or more, the overreacting response was to ban coverage. It probably would have been smarter to simply put those arrivals on the POTUS schedule, so that there would be an awareness of events at Dover and plan accordingly.

[No Elephants]

16. Showing what the President is doing as the first casulties arrive home is totally legitimate, in my

opinion. Juxtaposing any of us who who are safe at home against those who are dying in our name is always legitimate journalism, if not downright poetic. This is especially so when the civilian safe at home is the person who ordered the troops into harm's way.

Is it drama? Yes. Is it also unvarnished reality, though? Yes. Does the subject warrant it? Yes, IMO.

Did Poppy's embarrassment over his awkward moment justify throwing the First Amendment into the hopper for two freakin' decades, especially as to something so fundamental to our democracy as war reporting? Hell, NO. Is lifting the ban twenty years overdue? Hell, YES.

[FudaFuda]

32. I think what made that bad for Clinton was ...

that he immediately begain to pretend to be crying after he was caught on camera laughing.

[defendandprotect]

34. You couldn't "pile on" enough to cover the catastrophe of Poppy or W . . .

I think when you have wars like this -- with a great deal of death --

destruction of civilian life -- you'd best ACT LIKE it is a national

emergency.

In W's case, he also bankrupted our Treasury -- and ran two inane wars.

These are also two OIL career presidents -- with wars about Middle East OIL.

Of course they were laughing --

Refer to Henry Kissinger for his view on what wars are all about and I think

you'll no longer be naive about this!

[NanceGreggs]

7. We rant, we rage ...

... we argue and debate.

We spew our vitriol at our friends as easily as we do our enemies.

We look for what separates us as citizens, and hold onto it for dear life - as though unity can somehow be found in the gulf we create between us.

We stand strong in our convictions - whatever they may be - and vow to not be moved an inch to the left, a centimeter to the right.

And then there is a photograph - a single image captured and reproduced - a moment in time that causes all of us to stand back and reconsider who we are, what we stand for, and what is truly important.

This is that photograph, this is that image, this is that moment.

Stand up, America - one of our own has come home. And cry unashamedly as you recognize the impact of his passing on all of our lives.

[JanusAscending]

9. At ease forever, dear and faithful servant !

:cry: :patriot: :cry:

[NanceGreggs]

11. Amen.

:patriot:

[OneBlueSky]

14. if the current number of U.S. deaths if 4,963, these "x"s represent . . .

the number of military personnel whose photos were were never printed in our newspapers or broadcast on our televison sets . . . each "x" equals one U.S. soldier, sailer, marine, or Air Force member lost in the prime of his or her life in an illegal, unethical, and immoral war of aggression . . .

think about that . . . each "x" equals someone's father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, neice, nephew, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, cousin, friend, neighbor, co-worker, classmate, colleague, teacher, student, and/or every other category of interpersonal relationship you can imagine . . .

each "x" = one . . . life . . . lost . . .

forever . . .

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this war needs to end NOW! . . .

[Mari333]

24. both need to end. agreed. nt

[sabrina 1]

40. Yes, we always forget how many have died

in Afghanistan.

And, imagine trying to depict, using 'xes', the numbers of Iraqis and Afghans who have died, and trying to name them all also.

No wonder the war-mongers do not want us to see the evidence of their crimes.

It is very sobering to see that photo, it makes the war real.

Sad for all those who were sent home as cargo on commercial flights. From the beginning, other countries treated their fallen soldiers with at least the respect of returning with dignity, not in the dark of night, hidden from view as if it was THEY, not their leaders, who were responsible for the evil of those unnecessary wars.

RIP to all of those who have died, the troops, Iraqis and Afghans and shame on this country that it was all allowed to happen.

[Serial Mom]

29. Except they were MORE than an "x"...

I understand what you tried to represent, but each had a name, a face, a family, a life, a dream!

We should know the names of each and every one, on the day they leave the service of their country, on the day they return home and on the day they are put to rest! But the MSM does not even give them that recognition!

[willing dwarf]

15. Respectful and moving

Surely it is a far better thing to see and acknowledge the huge cost of the wars we are waging. The ghouls in the Bush administration preferred to keep these deaths hidden, but the lives lost were just as real. Rest in Peace Sgt. Myers. May your friends and family find peace also.

[No Elephants]

22. According to the posts on this thread, the ban has been in effect since 1989. That is a lot more

than only Dummya's administration.

[Serial Mom]

30. Yes - it was decided by Poppy bush and cheney back then...

[FudaFuda]

33. If you're pointing out that the 'ban' was also in effect during Bosnia, Somalia ...

i.e. Clinton years, then you're right. It was.

[midnight]

17. Hopefully the viewing of this type of homecoming for some of

our military families will bring an end to this senselessness.

[rsmith6621]

18. Now How About Some Live Video......

........of the same type of event lets say during Morning Joe or Hardball.....American Idol then I will say the new policy is working to it best.....

[tomm2thumbs]

19. important that people understand the cost in real terms, not just political posturing

that could be anyone's friend, child, father, son, mother, daughter, spouse

[liberal N proud]

20. Honor no longer hidden

[No Elephants]

23. Wrods are inadequate to thank Staff Sgt Myers and his survivors, but thank you. And the

same to all who share their horrific fate.

[bdamomma]

25. RIP and the number keeps growing, this needs to stop.

:-(

[1776Forever]

26. Respectful gratitude for the family and the service of this solider. Blessings to them all.

In the late 60's and early 70's one of my most vivid memories of the Vietnam War were the body bags of soldiers shown on the TV and in magazine pictures. I believe this reality made the end of the Vietnam War come to a close much faster then it would have without it. I think that the support President Obama is trying to forge from our NATO allies and others is one thing that can help to turn this around and we can find the peace in the world that has been lacking for such a long time. The War Profiteers have to be curbed though and their participation in Afghanistan has not been a good sign!

The following article speaks to this from Jeremy Scahill, award-winning investigative journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army.:

http://i1.democracynow.org/2009/4/2/obamas_blackwater_jeremy_scahill_on_triple

Obama’s Blackwater? Jeremy Scahill on Triple Canopy, the New Lead US Mercenary Force in Iraq and Israel
Mercenaries

The Obama administration has confirmed the hiring of mercenary firm Triple Canopy to take over Blackwater’s contract to protect US diplomats in Iraq. Part of the firm’s job will be to protect the “monstrous” US embassy in Baghdad. We speak to independent journalist Jeremy Scahill, who has also just revealed that the administration is using Triple Canopy to protect US diplomats in Israel.

............

Let us hope we will see an end to this in our lifetimes.

[progressoid]

27. My heart sinks everytime I see something like this.

[nradisic]

28. God Bless....

It is about time that our nation witness on a daily basis the sacrifices that some Americans are making. It should stand as a reminder that all of us need to sacrifice in some way...

[Ilsa]

31. MSNBC just showed some video of the return of Myers.

SecDef Gates and Pres. Obama did a good and right thing in giving the families the choice of coverage.

RIP, Mr. Myers. You've given your all. Peace to your family.

[sarah FAILIN]

35. This pic brings tears to my eyes.

If we could get coverage of all our soldiers coming back home and keep it visible I think the attitude about all war would be different. I see so many foolish people that don't have to face the consequences of war and they run off at the mouth about how we need to do this and that if other countries don't follow our lead... A dose of reality would be good for them.
Thanks to Mr. Myers and also his family for allowing us to share this private time with them.

[Lugnut]

36. RIP Sgt Myers.

:(

:patriot:

[ardvark]

37. I once talked with a Marine who's son had this duty at Dover

said he grew up real fast

RIP Sgt. Myers

[Barack_America]

38. .

:patriot:

Staff Sgt. Philip Myers

[sandyj999]

39. Thank you Sgt. Myers. Rest in Peace n/t

[Kajsa]

41. RIP, Sgt. Myers.

Thank you.

:cry:

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

42. RIP

[MasonJar]

43. President Clinton did not have such a ban. There are several photos

of President Clinton going to Dover to be there when the flight arrived and the flag draped coffin.

[iandhr]

44. Wow

Man you are not prepared for this. When you first see this image it hits you. RIP Sgt. Myers.