Pentagon releases photos of America's Iraq war dead

[quaoar]

Thanks to the efforts of those who had to file lawsuits to force the release.

The photos are here:

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

[Worst Username Ever]

1. Amazing. Tragic.

So sad to lose so many for so little

[SammyBlue]

21. All dead for a lie and all dead on deception

I have an empty feeling in my stomach. It hurts me so much to see this. It hurts me so much because they died on pretense and greed.

G-d bless every single one of you. And may your fellow soldiers come home safe, in tact (physically and mentally) and soon!

The bravest of the brave! Thank you. And may G-d rest your fallen souls!

[wicket]

2. Burial at Sea

Wow. :cry:

[Solly Mack]

3. and they died for what? a lie

I hope all who supported that lie are happy with themselves...for the blood of the dead...all the dead, civilian and soldier alike, is on your hands.

I will never forgive you either...any of you.

[quaoar]

4. They blacked out the faces of honor guards

[Roland99]

27. That is Bizarre!

Anonymous honor
Pentagon releases disputed photos, but conceals faces
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-815234.php

[quaoar]

5. Here's the Washington Post story

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — From a row of silhouetted hearses on a rain-drenched tarmac to a convoy of olive-green trucks, each bearing a casket, more than 700 images of flag-draped coffins of American service members killed at war were released by the Pentagon this week in response to a lawsuit.

The photographs, taken by military photographers between 2001 and 2004, include one of a casket containing the body of an American sailor sliding over the edge of the Navy aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise during a Burial at Sea ceremony. Others show rows of coffins, and many depict solemn honor guard ceremonies for the fallen troops at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and other U.S. military facilities.

“This is an important victory for the American people, for the families of troops killed in the line of duty during wartime, and for the honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said University of Delaware Professor Ralph Begleiter, whose October 2004 lawsuit spurred the release. He had sought the release under the Freedom of Information Act.

“This significant decision by the Pentagon should make it difficult, if not impossible, for any U.S. government in the future to hide the human cost of war from the American people,” Begleiter said in a written statement.

[stevedeshazer]

6. How incredibly sad

[rfranklin]

13. Just why are they ashamed to show those guards?

It would seem to be (and has been in the past) an honor to escort the fallen military heroes. Perhaps they are not so sure it is an honorable war?

[BeHereNow]

7. Oh come on guys, look on the sunny side!

Defense contractor stock holders made
a killing from the killing!
SARCASM off.
BHN

[outrage]

22. Oh my gosh. This hurts so bad.

I feel simultaneously sad and angry. What did these people die for? And will this criminal administration ever have to pay for this? If there is a God they should pay for this.

[BeHereNow]

23. Welcome to DU and yes, it does hurt so bad.

I cry every day...
I see the financial reports gloating about the
record gains in the defense industry since the debacle
began and I wonder to myself,
"How can the people of this country celebrate these
MONETARY gains at the cost of life?"
Are they REALLY unable to connect the dots?
For every dollar gained by Raytheon stock holders,
a young life is lost..FOR WHAT????
BHN

[Skinner]

8. Thank you so much for posting this.

Such a tragedy.

[Paradise]

9. Oh God! :'( n/t

[matt819]

10. And the MSM?

These photos should be front and center on the first page of every paper in the US. Wanna bet we won't see one damn photo anywhere but here?

[wallwriter]

11. God bless those who fight and die

in this unjust war. But do we really need one Humvee per coffin?

[Demrock6]

12. yes

[cyberpj]

14. This was a University of Delaware Prof - former CNN reporter

Item posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1749809

[cyberpj]

15. Lawsuit over war photos not over =

Lawsuit over war photos not over
By VICTOR GRETO / The News Journal
04/29/2005
The recent release of 360 photographs of war casualties doesn't mean a lawsuit filed to obtain them is over, according to the attorney representing the University of Delaware professor who pressed for them to be made public.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1749809#1752820

[Greyskye]

16. Site dead? Overwhelmed?

Thanks to the efforts of those who had to file lawsuits to force the release.

The photos are here:

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

Has this site been overwhelmed by hits? I'm getting "connection refused" at this link.

EDIT: Nevermind - it finally limped partially back to life for me. It looks like the site is being hit hard!

[BobF]

17. Overwhelmed, I think.

Got the dreaded 'page cannot be displayed' window, but made it in on the third try, after a loooong wait.

Those pictures are being seen, that's for sure.

Now, how long will it be before we begin to find the willingness to view the caskets and graves of the IRAQI dead?

I'm not holding my breath.

[Rainscents]

18. Thanks for posting this!

I couldn't help but to tear to see all these soldiers is dead all because of OIL. :cry:

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Sad

These people should be honored and not shamed.

[Ysolde]

20. Tragic

But don't they deserve more honor than big black boxes? We never needed to do this before.

:cry:

[smurfygirl]

24. I don't see the use in blacking out the faces

to me it seems dishonorable.

Why didn't the public see these pictures years ago. Better yet, why isn't the media showing them now?

How tragic. My heart is hurting just thinking of the families that will never see their soldier again.

[kcass1954]

25. Sitting here in tears...

Maybe if we saw these images on the news and in print, more Americans would be against this illegal and immoral war.

[chlamor]

26. One thing that is curious here

is that it is coffins and flags. That seems tragically antiseptic. I have seen so many images, not in US MSM, of Iraqis in various live flesh versions of agony/death but almost none of US troops at the real brute level.

To be fair I haven't looked at all the released photos but have looked at quite a few.

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