New bill would lift ban on journalists photographing returning military dead.
New bill would lift ban on journalists photographing returning military dead.
A new bill would require the Department of Defense to “grant journalists access to ceremonies honoring fallen military personnel.” Introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) last month, the bill has six co-sponsors and won the endorsement of the National Press Photographers Association this week. The bill states:
The Secretary of Defense shall grant access to accredited members of the media at military commemoration ceremonies and memorial services conducted by the Armed Forces for members of the Armed Forces who have died on active duty and when the remains of members of the Armed Forces arrive at military installations in the United States.
The current Defense policy, which was updated in 2003, states that there shall be no “media coverage of” the returning war dead.
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62 Responses to “New bill would lift ban on journalists photographing returning military dead.”
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But, but...if they're allowed to actually document what's going on...the American people might actually SEE the cost of Chimpy's little galavanting crusade through the Middle East!
Rep. Jones obviously doesn't realize what party he belongs to! (I know nothing about him, but as far as this bill goes, Kudos to him for introducing it.)
August 15th, 2008 at 11:04 amThe Secretary of Defense shall grant access to accredited members of the media
Yes, but if you PRINT the pictures you'll probably lose your accreditation.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:05 amWhy do we need a bill when we have the First Amendment?
August 15th, 2008 at 11:07 amYes, by all means, let's see the results of the surge.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:08 amIntroduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)
That's relly gotta hurt the Chimpster's feelings.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:10 amThe fact that the bill is even necessary shows the decadence of the Republican Party and the bushco. The whole Bush tenure has been nothing but a Ponzi scheme to foster the accumulation of wealth by the Rich and Corporations. The military heroes that fought for the United States of Haliburton are deemed unworthy of even a decent reverent burial.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:11 amRep. Jones obviously doesn’t realize what party he belongs to! (I know nothing about him,...
Walter Jones has made a remarkable journey in his career. He is the one who brought the world the phrases "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast." He later had a change of heart on the Iraqi misadventure, and is now an opponent of Bush's grand game. Jones still promotes flag-waving, chest-thumping pro-military and anti-immigrant bills, as he is running for reelection in North Carolina.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:13 amFor some reason the UK never imposed such a ban on its war dead, despite Blair having copied so much from Bush's playbook. Just an observation.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:15 amWhat's all this fuss about pictures of "war dead"?
August 15th, 2008 at 11:18 amEvery day, the media carries pictures of McNumbNuts. You can't get much more "war dead" than that!
Oh, I seem to remember something about a mother of a dead soldier getting into a whole lot of trouble for submitting photos of her child's return to a local paper. Does anyone else remember that?
August 15th, 2008 at 11:19 amSigning statement in 3, 2, 1 ...
August 15th, 2008 at 11:20 amUh, me think's they are seeing the hand writing on the wall, their party will soon be out and the rep's want to make the next pres look bad by viewing all the casket's...Just my thinking...Blessings, we really need them.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:20 amAnd while we're at it, why don't we start counting the number of Iraqis we kill and/or get killed... just so's we ALL know what we've REALLY accomplished over there w/ our hard-stolen tax dollars.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am5th Estate Says:
For some reason the UK never imposed such a ban on its war dead, despite Blair having copied so much from Bush’s playbook. Just an observation.
Funny how, on average, american movies are way more violent than british movies, and yet the american government is more afraid of showing dead soldiers, on the media, than the british government.
Actually... no, it's not funny at all.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:21 amAnd in an unrelated story Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) has been invited on a private hunting trip this weekend with Vice President Dick Cheney.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:22 amSupport for our Troops should include being recognized as a fallen soldier. Their's no 'dishonor' in that in any way.
For many, it's the only moment in time American citizens will be aware of their sacrifice to this Country.
I've thought all along that banning media coverage / photos was a disservice to the honor of having served.
Much like the manipulation of public information by the military in the 'rah rah' stage of the Iraqi invasion, this is part of a cover up in public awareness.
Oh yeah, & then their's the Pat Tillman fiasco...
August 15th, 2008 at 11:23 amIf BushCo had had any say in it, the Marines never would have had their greatest military recruiting tool and iconic WWII photograph; the Marines hoisting the flag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:26 amWhat is really needed is a bill requiring the corporate media mandatory photos of all Bush/Chaney/McCain crimes including dead soldiers killed because Bush and all Republicans lied the US into WAR!. We are WAITING!!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:29 amtheir stupidity is only valid if you give it validation...
cant hide the truth no matter how much money you throw at it.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:29 amBadmoodman Says:
If BushCo had had any say in it, the Marines never would have had their greatest military recruiting tool and iconic WWII photograph; the Marines hoisting the flag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
Nah, they would've probably taken the same picture up in California and then said it was taken in the Pacific.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:32 amBtw, here's some uncensored photos from the "first serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War."
August 15th, 2008 at 11:38 am
It's really sad to Lincoln's legacy that the party he founded has been reduced to a group of chubby rich white men, and chubby rich men wannabes (like Darryl) who cannot run an honest or ethical campaign, and must resort to lying to win because otherwise no one would want their policies of plutocracy, hatred and destructione.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:38 amUmmm...
http://lsd-25.ru/2008/08/14/voyna-v-yuzhnoy-osetii-89-fotografiy-arkadiya-babchenko/
August 15th, 2008 at 11:38 amEveryone should be REQUIRED to see the price of folly.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:42 amZimzone: Support for our Troops should include being recognized as a fallen soldier. Their’s no ‘dishonor’ in that in any way.
Quite so.
By the same token, those who conscientiously object and most espicially those who have fought and refuse to fight again for the cause they have already honored by their service should also not be considered 'dishonorable'.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:53 amWhy is it that I have seen probably a half dozen 'up close and personal' shots of dead in Georgia but we can't see any from Iraq?
HMMMMMMM
August 15th, 2008 at 11:59 amIf this proposed bill does not pass, it will be simply another confirmation of this adminstration;s and its enablers callousness and unconstitutional (illegal) depravity.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:00 pmWitch1 Says:"...the rep’s want to make the next pres look bad by viewing all the casket’s..."
Wonderful Witch,
I don't think it will happen because the only caskets that will be necessary are those that will hold those old vets that pass from natural causes.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:00 pmI watch TV all the time , are there really dead bodies ?
August 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pmA day late and a dollar short. Where were they back when this ban first took place?
August 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pmBushco's version of Don't Ask Don't Tell
August 15th, 2008 at 12:21 pmWhere are the trolls this morning? Did they take Friday off or are they still waiting for the donuts and talking points to be distributed?
August 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pmAnd the MSM will ignore this, they will be told by their masters to not do anything counter to WH policy.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm"maybe we will get off of our butts and demand the destruction of the radical islamics."
We don't need to destroy radical Islamics. We just need to have a president who will protect us from them.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pmPotters Gin Says:
I want daily reminders of the WTC, the people jumping from 100 floors up, the planes hitting the buildings in the name of allah, the beheading and desecration of bodies and the coffins, drive the point home at every opportunity, maybe we will get off of our butts and demand the destruction of the radical islamics.
You do realize that we don't have a Ministry of Propaganda, right? And that all those images exist and are readily retrievable if your memory is that feeble.
Photos honoring the sacrifice of our military personnel are not propaganda, CheapGin.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pmTanqueray;
And just when are you enlisting?
*crickets chirping*
August 15th, 2008 at 12:54 pmupside99 - Look what you did!
You should apologize.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pmI want daily reminders of the Iraq fiasco, the people being blown up and tortured, the planes hitting the buildings in the name of Jesus, the beheading and desecration of bodies and the coffins, drive the point home at every opportunity, maybe we will get off of our butts and demand the destruction of the radical fascist christians.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:01 pmRobbez,
Sorry about that!
But you have to admit, we didn't get much of a challenge so far.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:04 pmHow about a photo of a soldier's grieving wife next to a photo of Bush jokingly looking under a table for the WMD's.
Real funny.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:13 pmTanqueray Says:
Uncle Ho Says:
And just when are you enlisting?
Already did. Served my time for JFK/LBJ bailing the F’ing French out of their little colonial problems in Indochina. F’ing democrats and their unprovoked incursions!!
Uhhh, Tanq,
Unka Ho and I were there too but we didn't see that as a 'bail-out' of the French; they were long gone, except for a few ex-pat plantation owners and some pill boxes left behind. But it was an illegal war and a total clusterf uck, just like the one your AWOL butt-hole buddie got us into in Iraq.
Might want to read up on the SEA history a little more before responding, K?
August 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pmTanqueray Says:
Uncle Ho Says:
And just when are you enlisting?
Already did. Served my time for JFK/LBJ bailing the F’ing French out of their little colonial problems in Indochina. F’ing democrats and their unprovoked incursions!!
And what happened to Johnson? He was run out of the party. He was held reponsible by his own party for his escalation of the Vietnam war.
What are you rethugs doing about bush? Nothing, punk. You're just one more right wing blowhard.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:37 pmTanquary is what right-trash alcholics drink when they want to think they're "Klassy".
August 15th, 2008 at 1:39 pmSomeone explain to the sycophant Bush blower that 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq, except for the abuse of the Chimpfck tying 9/11 to justify His War.
But you already knew that didn't you CheapGin? You are intellectually dishonest, and a cheap two-bit whore.
Thank Jebus that you are also one of the last holdouts of a dying breed of neocon fools. Sooner the better too.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:41 pmnanlichi, cheapgin won't listen, won't respond, he's one of those cut and run republicans. He's onlt too happy to let patriotic americans die for a lie because he knows he won't have to pay a price.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pmNeo Cons care little about the human cost of preemption. For them, other people's children are just a corporate investment that's out of sight and out of mind.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/neo_con_trifecta.html
August 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pmTanqueray Says:
So whose mess were we cleaning up when Eisenhower and Kennedy sent “advisors” and Johnson escalated? The F’ing French created the problem and your democrats thought we had to fix it
Eisenhower was a republican, you drunken idiot. And, again, what happpened to Johnson? He esclated the war and we ran him off? Where is your courage and intergity you right-trash loser? Bush is doing the same thing and you suck his d!ck.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:51 pmAnd, back to the point of the thread, why are you in favor of hiding the dead you helped to kill?
August 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pmThat sure as hell isn't the vietnam version the right leaning solical studies department crams down the throats of the students in my district. They have this weird democracy standing up against communism and preventing dominoes from falling type bullshit they expect the children to regurgitate...
August 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pmPlaying Call of Duty until 3 am every day is not considered military service.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pmBobwurst Says:
Tanquary is what right-trash alcholics drink when they want to think they’re “Klassy”.
This is why I always correct the troll's login when quoting it. "cheap gin" or "potters gin" is more appropriate. Tanqueray's gins are all very good, and far more classy than this troll, who has previously appeared as "Gin" and "Beefeater".
August 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pmI sort of like the Bombay Sapphire myself...
August 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pmYo Tanqueray... did you ever apologize for calling McWars a jerk when you said Limbaugh didn't own a plane, on the other thread?
August 15th, 2008 at 2:19 pmcheapgin has scurried away, again. what can one expect of a cut and run republican?
August 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pmTanqueray Says:
upside99 Says:
Blah blah blah
So whose mess were we cleaning up when Eisenhower and Kennedy sent “advisors” and Johnson escalated? The F’ing French created the problem and your democrats thought we had to fix it.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pmTanqueray Says:
upside99 Says:
Blah blah blah
So whose mess were we cleaning up when Eisenhower and Kennedy sent “advisors” and Johnson escalated? The F’ing French created the problem and your democrats thought we had to fix it.
If you go back a bit further, Tanq, you will find out that Ho Chi Minh actually was fighting against the Japanese in WWII with our blessing AND our weapons. But then we kinda left him hanging after the war and let the French take the country over for their personal gain.
So do some research and stop dropping troll turds, OK?
August 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pmdbadass Says:
I sort of like the Bombay Sapphire myself…
I wasn't much of a gin fan and suddenly have a half dozen brands in the house. Try Hendricks, from Scotland. But we've also got local microdistillers turning out some great stuff, especially Aviation Gin. Mmmmmmmmmm.
And Tanqueray 10 and Tanqueray Rangpur.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI have to second the Sapphire. At least before I try gummitch's.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:53 pmits nice to remember the dead but let the media focus in on the injured from the illegal war...the thousands of maimed , limbless and mentally damaged American service personnel. These guys are forgotten and ignored just as those in ignored in WW1, WWII. We should listen to them becasue they speak they truth.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pmDon't hold your breath, they could have done this a long time ago, but didn't.
The Dems don't want anything reminding people that they are just as culpable for the war, and continuing it, as the GOP.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:39 amTanqueray Says:
I want daily reminders of the WTC, the people jumping from 100 floors up, the planes hitting the buildings in the name of allah, the beheading and desecration of bodies and the coffins, drive the point home at every opportunity, maybe we will get off of our butts and demand the destruction of the radical islamics.
Typical stupidity from you. What are you three years old a not very bright three year old at that? When it happened we DID see the Towers go down a few hundred times and video of the beheadings were available on the internet. Photos of the dead soldiers were FORBIDDEN since Chimpy McShortbus wanted to hide the cost of this war. You are an incredibly ignorant and bigoted poster. No one needs convincing we should be fighting radical terrorists of ALL stripes including the rightwing idiots who shoot up churches and blow up federal buildings in Oklahoma. You are really pathetic
August 17th, 2008 at 1:46 amTanqueray Says:
Blah blah blah
So whose mess were we cleaning up when Eisenhower and Kennedy sent “advisors” and Johnson escalated? The F’ing French created the problem and your democrats thought we had to fix it.
Unbelievable as it would seem you get stupider by the post. NOW you admit Eisenhower started it yet you still try to blame Dems. The French did NOT create any problems for US. They gave UP on keeping Vietnam a colony. WE did what we did. The incredible brainwashed stupidity to try to blame this on the french takes STOOPID to galactic levels. MORON
August 17th, 2008 at 1:54 am