Kennedy, Kerry attack Bush over media ban on troop coffins

[Feanorcurufinwe]

"The need to ban cameras speaks volumes about the human costs our soldiers are paying in Iraq," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said. ``Every photo at Dover (Air Force Base) would be a new indictment of the administration for a war America never should have fought."

Just before the start of the conflict in March, the Pentagon issued a directive re-enforcing the ban on media coverage of soldiers' caskets returning to or departing from any U.S. military base.

<snip>

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) said soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice deserve to be brought home with honor.

"We should not hide the real costs of war," Kerry said. "For many who have not served or whose families have not been personally touched by war, the images of those flag-draped caskets is the most searing way to communicate the sacrifice that defines America at war."

<snip>

Marvin Kalb of Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, said the administration does not want the images of returning coffins to counteract efforts to portray Iraq in a positive light.

"Iraq and the economy are the two points of vulnerability for this president," Kalb said. "To the degree the administration can control the image of Iraq and make it seem more positive, they will."
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/national/pent11032003.htm

[arcane1]

1. hell yes! It's ABOUT TIME!!!

:bounce:


show no f-ing mercy, Dems! God knows Bush isn't...

[caledesi]

2. Finally! "We don't need to see coffins." - Momma Bush (BFEE)

Maybe you don't Bar, but it is a sad commentary on the total disrespect of our troops. Dead soldiers don't count.

[blm]

9. Press still ignoring it.

They will NEVER give Kerry any media focus unless it's about the horserace.

[RadioFlyer]

3. According to Helen Thomas...

... this has been a long-standing policy. Quoting from her column:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/helenthomas/2593688/detail.html

"...the U.S. military planners designed the blueprint for future wars to limit media access -- as we saw later in Grenada and the first Gulf War.

Lt. Col. Cynthia Colin, a Defense Department spokeswoman, says the ban on media coverage stems from a compassion for the families, "to protect their wishes and privacy during the time of greatest loss and grief."

During Desert Storm in 1991, the first Persian Gulf war, several media organizations sued the Defense Department to gain access to Dover, arguing that the First Amendment barred the restrictions that the military imposed on the media.

But a U.S. District Court judge denied their claim, saying that the media did not have the right to view the return of coffins at Dover.

That ruling was upheld in 1996 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which agreed that the government's policy reduced hardships on families and protects their privacy.

Individual graveside ceremonies can be covered by the press with the permission of the relatives."

This isn't new or unique to this administration.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. It Was Fine When They Came Home Noble Heroes

Now that they are distasteful reminders, put them in the spare bedroom.

[blm]

4. This isn't a campaign story, though. It belongs in GD.

Great article.

[izzie]

5. It is also why the ranch is so controled.

Father Bush was in a bad light in Kennebunkport where all could see. Even that place is sort off the track now. For years that was the road you took to get up the coast to Goats Island light and you can not go that way now. The Bush's seem to have taken over the country.Father always lived in a bubble and son is even more so.This thing on the coffins is right up their line. It may back fire. Sometimes what you can not see is worse than what you can see.It starts to be, a man is killed and people wonder if they will show the coffins. Interesting. Then they wonder if it is only one man killed and they may be not telling the truth.Maybe their were two coffins?With all the things hid with Bush this is not one that will go over well. Wait and see.

[blm]

7. Forget about military coffins, Judy Woodruff wants to talk about

D_ _ _. That's much more important. Sheesh. Did you see her ignore this on CNN?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. No TV, I gotta wait for the transcripts

but I'm sure she'll do everything she can to push the media-annointed candidate.