Pentagon allows media to cover returning war dead for first time in 18 years.
By on Apr 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Pentagon allows media to cover returning war dead for first time in 18 years.
At Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last night, the Pentagon granted the news media access to the arrival of a fallen soldier from overseas for the first time in 18 years. In February, the Obama administration lifted the ban on news coverage of returning war dead, which had been in place since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Following the new policy, the media were allowed to cover the return after the military received consent from family members of the soldier. Below is the return of 30-year old Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers, who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on April 4:
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Sgt. Phillip Myers
Thank you, Sgt., for your service and duty to our country, which ended in the most unhappy manner possible. You will not be forgotten.
To his family; sincere condolences for your loss, for the little that that is worth.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:46 amWhat a damned rotten shame that so many of our nation’s sons and daughters have lost their lives for no good reason other than Bush and Cheney’s whims and paranoid delusions.
Sgt. Meyers, rest in peace and honored glory.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:55 amStaff Sergeant Phillip Myers. Thank you for your service to our country, and thank you for giving that last true measure of devotion. My condolences to your family, and my appreciation to them for allowing us to see the grace and dignity with which our nation’s fallen are treated.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:56 amFour more years of these kinds of policies and America will once again be a truly great nation.
Thank you President Obama for allowing people to see the realities of war!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:56 amWayne Ant Schneider Says
What’s with the bugs?
April 6th, 2009 at 9:57 amI would also like to add my prayers, thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Phillip Myers. Please let them find all the support they need in this time, and my Sgt. Meyers rest in peace.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:02 amunbelievable,
If you are referring to the insect names in our screen names, that’s another show of solidarity with Faiz and the TP crew. Bill O’Reilly called the people at ThinkProgress “insects” and said they were a “cabal”, because they dared to print the truth about the things O’Reilly has said about rape victims. So we modified our screen names to show TP we are proud to be part of the “insect cabal”.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:03 amunbelievable Says:
What’s with the bugs?
April 6th, 2009 at 9:57 am
__________
Bill O’Reilly called us all insects, so we decided to proudly revel in our insectitude by adopting bug-based monikers. :)
April 6th, 2009 at 10:04 amwatchdog Says:
Your perfect little president sent this man over there.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:02 am
__________
So?
April 6th, 2009 at 10:05 amwatchdog Says:
Your perfect little president sent this man over there.
Which US president started this ‘war’?
You have ONE guess…..
April 6th, 2009 at 10:05 amshit-for-brains watchpup:
It was YOUR wannabe fuhrer, chimpy who sent SSgt Meyers over there. SO STFU!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:06 amWayne Ant Schneider Says:
So we modified our screen names to show TP we are proud to be part of the “insect cabal”.
Some of us are instectally challenged ( :( ).
I still prefer:
The Nazi Socialist, Liberal Fascist, Hate-machine Pacifist, Dictatorial Marxist, Progressive Communist, Left-Wing Stalinist, Homosexual Athiest, Democrat Satanist, Anti-Gun Vegan Abortionist, Welfare Queen Tin-Foil Hat Wearing Elitist, Secular Insect, Desiring to Spread the Wealth and Hug Islamic Extremists Cabal (known by the pithy acronym: NSLFHMPDMPCLWSHADSAGVAWTFHWESICDTSTWAHIEC).
But I’m biased.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am6. Watchdog — Bush — “my perfect little President.” Got news for you — I did not support Bush and Cheney.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:15 amwatchdog Says:
Which US president started this ‘war’?
You have ONE guess…..
It was a terrorist group called Al Qaeda.
Bzzzzzzzz! Incorrect. You gain not points, and will be tied to the shed out back, in the rain.
Al Qeda started no war — they cannot, by your own admission, since they are not a nation and their “soldiers” are “enemy combatants”. Had Bush utilized appropriate means (such as the CIA, for example) to eliminate the actual threat there would have been no “war”. Had Bush efficiently executed his “war” it would have already been over, but for 7 years he not only failed to capture Bin Laden, but in those 7 years the size and scope of Al Qeda has grown to a level that they themselves never dreamed of being actually possible.
Bush and his staunch supporters enabled this situation. Take a look in the mirror.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:18 amWhen our military personnel die in battle, it is always tragic. When they die in battles that were unnecessary, or inspired by the personal greed and corruption of our government at the highest levels, it is more than tragic, it is an abomination, evil and immoral beyond description — and so described the Bush White House.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:18 amBy your logic BO is just as bad as Bush and Cheney.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:19 am—
How so? Please be specific
Thanks
How nice that we on the left have repeatedly been accused of not supporting our troops. Yet, here we are, giving condolences and prayers to Sgt. Phillip Myers’ family. We honor him by speaking highly of him and his duty to country.
But, blotchdog comes on here, and spews forth his hate, while not mentioning or praising Sgt. Myers.
Tell me again who doesn’t support our troops.
And blotchdog, just so we’re clear, PRESIDENT OBAMA is not perfect, nor is he little, and he is not just presiding over 1 faction. He is the PRESIDENT for OUR COUNTRY.
Don’t like it? GTFO!
I will not disrespect Sgt. Myers and his family anymore by giving you the much needed attention you so crave. Another thread, perhaps.
My sincere condolences to Sgt. Myers family. May he rest in peace.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:21 amRest well, Sgt. Myers and know there are people who appreciate your sacrifice and mourn your loss. My condolences to the family and friends.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:22 amIt only took the repugs 74 days to start blaming everything on Obama. Considering what Bush/Cheney did over the last eight years to hurt our country, you still have alot more blaming to do.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:22 amwatchdog Says:
BO has the power to stop this war immediately but he hasn’t. What’s the problem?? By your logic BO is just as bad as Bush and Cheney.
Do you really believe that this is strategically sound or even possible (your suggestion that the president “Just stop this war immediately“)? Is it politcally possible?
You offer a strawman, and you know it.
As to the second part of that post — no, there is NO comaprison between Bush/Cheney and President Obama (interesting that you felt the need to mention Cheney along with ex-president Bush…).
April 6th, 2009 at 10:22 amDRxJapanese Beetle Says:
I will not disrespect Sgt. Myers and his family anymore by giving you the much needed attention you so crave. Another thread, perhaps.
I am humbled. Well said.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:24 amBecause we are still in Iraq and Afghanistan.
—
April 6th, 2009 at 10:26 amTrue but how to you make the stretch of linking this to the logic of others?
The terrorist incidents are crimes by unauthorized, not state-sponsored groups of criminals.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:28 amTo start a war with a country over a cabal of criminals is unwaranted. If the local John Birch Society, or David Koresh group committed a terrorist act somewhere in the world, would that justify our nation being attacked as if in war?
Bush was wrong from the start both in Afghanistan and then later when he used 9/11 as a reason to invade Iraq.
He treated it as war against an entire nation instead of using our own and international policing efforts to arrest the perpetrators.
Now, that Bush has entangled the whole world into this abyss, it is up to Obama to try to extricate ourselves without losing any more honor and security than Bush has already squandered.
Our trolls can blithely say things like Obama can get us out of there immediately, as they try to hook Obama instead of Bush – but they can’t be that stupid — can they?
The international complexity resultant from the abysmal leadership of Bush&Co cannot be solved with the current president saying “oh, never mind,” as if he were Emily Latella (SNL). But of course, the trolls oversimplify everything as it suits their little pea-brains.
This was a policy that I never liked. If we are to head to war, the least we can do is honor the heroes who died defending our nation by covering their life and their sad return. Of course, this is also something I would strictly leave for families to decide.
Both Clinton and Bush held off on repealing this policy, and I am glad to see the veil lifted.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:29 amsscncturn64 Says:
It only took the repugs 74 days to start blaming everything on Obama.
_______________
74 days? Wasn’t it more like 74 seconds?
Hell, R Limbaugh even claimed it had already become”Obama’s Economy” in September of last fall, 5 months before the Inaugeration…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:41 amButt Sniffing Watchdog,
The Joint Chiefs told President Obama that it would take a minimum of 6 months to remove all traces of our military out of Iraq. We would not want to leave anything behind that would be of use to the opposition, which we did when we left Viet Nam. So, dum bass, even if Obama wanted to pull out immediately, we would still be there until, at the very least, June 20th.
Thank you SSGT Meyers, and God Bless your family.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:41 amwatchdog Says:
_______________
You have sick, hateful mind.
Perhaps it’s time to simply flag this fool out of here.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:48 amwatchdog Says:
BO Supports him now. If he didn’t, he would pull the troops out immediately like he promised during his campaign. Isn’t that why you voted for him?
April 6th, 2009 at 10:20 am
___________
No. I was fully aware during the that President Obama did not posess teleportation powers and thus could not immediately pull the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. I did, however, trust that he had a better idea than McCain of how to end both wars intelligently and in a reasonable timeframe.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:49 amBlessings to SSGT Meyers and his family…May all the fallen rest in Peace..
Noticed the junk yard dog is present with his marching order’s today…Remember he is chained and inside a chain link fence now that Presiden Obama is in office…All the little piss puppy can do is bark, yank at his chain and in his mad state look for a bush to piss on..Hay, stupid mutt all the bush’s you need to piss on are in Texas or throwing crap at red state…Be gone…..Blessings to everyone else…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:52 amIt is way past time for the US to give the respect and honor earned by those who choose to serve in the military and perform their duty. Every fallen soldier should arrive home to full military honors and their names publicly posted with a thank you for a job well done.
They should be met by the brass and the policy makers so they can acknowledge their pride for the sacrifice of the fallen. And so they can know that they are dealing with people, not numbers.
The grief of family and friends should be shared by every American, the pain and burden of loss carried by every citizen. And the pride that these people chose to serve faithfully and well.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:55 amIdeas like, making a time line known so the enemy can plain around it?
—
April 6th, 2009 at 11:03 amAnd do what? Attack us when we aren’t there?
dbadass Says:
Ideas like, making a time line known so the enemy can plain around it?
—
And do what? Attack us when we aren’t there?
The troll apparently thinks we could simply slip away under cover of darkness. “Where did all the hated Americans go?” the terrists would wonder.
Truly a lying and stupid troll.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:06 amFolks, Please ignore watchdog and any other troll who shows up here. Please just flag it and move on. Do not respond directly or indirectly. He is trashing the memory of a real American.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:19 am“But Your Majesty, these colonials just refuse to fight honorably. They hide behind trees and snipe at us. Or run and hide and then attack when we least expect it. Hardly sporting of them. But rest assured, we will win.”
Paraphrased from any British general’s report to King George V, circa 1777.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:21 amAll Americans are proud and thankful of our service men and women in the military. Im sure they joined because they believed in what they were fighting for. I wonder how many of them were happy to be going home after their first tour of duty, then being told that they have to do a second and third tour. Bush/Cheney got the U.S. into this war based on lies. They also underestimated the enemy. Its really sad to think that our men and women were killed because Bush/Cheney`s lies and mistakes.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:25 amwatchdog Says:
Ideas like, making a time line known so the enemy can plain around it?
April 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
__________
Yes. That’s a good idea, as opposed to keeping the occupations open-ended and giving the enemy an easy recruiting tool.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:28 amevery single death unnecessary.
what a waste.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:40 amIts about time people will see a glimpse of the human costs of war. I was very young but I remember watching clips of the Vietnam War with my parents almost daily. Not so in the age of information. When was the last time anyone got a candid view of the devastation in Iraq or Afghanistan? Our media “protects” us from such graphic scenes.
I don’t think viewing military funerals will have much of an effect public anti-war opinion however. I think the reason there was an effect during the Vietnam War is because of the draft. That deceased soldier in the clip could easily be your son, grandson, or yourself if you were of draft age. Want to see the current wars end? Reinstate the draft.
BushCo were cowards for not reinstating the draft. More has never been asked of soldiers than the ones serving in these wars. The military is and has been undermanned for a war effort. (Why should we need national guard troops or private contractors?) Remember Rummy and his “you go to war with…” spiel? BushCo talked up this “war on terra” as the battle for all humanity. Well if that was the case…all hands on deck! But BushCo knew that even the threat of a draft would end their wars in an instant. Easy to buy into macho war bs until you or a loved one have a chance of dying in it as a result. Remember all those young “W” war supporters? How many do you think there would have been if they had a chance of getting drafted?
Hey, maybe we can draft “Joe the Plumber” to fix all the plumbing in Iraq and Afghanistan!
BTW- Here’s a GREAT link about Colon Powell.
http://www.counterpunch.org/mcgovern04062009.html
April 6th, 2009 at 12:12 pmThank you for your service, SSGT Myers. My sincere condolences to your family and friends.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pmwatchdog Says:
You really are an ignorant brainwashed hateful troll arent you?
April 6th, 2009 at 2:34 pmSgt. Myers, rest in peace. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
April 6th, 2009 at 3:08 pmTo the family of Sgt. Myers, please accept my true sympathy and condolences. By letting the media see his return home, you are also doing a great service to our country and to the truth. I hope that this helps to bring you a small measure of peace and acceptance.
TP,
This is a thread about the first fallen soldier whose final trip home was open to the press. Would you please get this idiot “watchdog’s” comments out of here, out of respect to SSgt Myers and his family?
If he wants to pick his stupid little fights on other threads, fine, but this is not the one to do it. Thank you.
April 6th, 2009 at 4:31 pm20. Watchdog — you are now jumping to a conclusion. I didn’t say I voted for Obama. You are concluding that. I do not share who I vote for with anyone because it is nobody else’s business. I am a political independent. Never belonged to either party and don’t intend to start now.
April 6th, 2009 at 5:26 pmIt’s about time the fallen are brought home in a manner that forces us to witness the human cost-of-war. My prayers for peace are with the family, and my heart-wrenching apololgy to Sgt. Phillip Myers, and all our Service Personnel, that you were so shamefully lied to and used to line the coffers of war-profiteers… I am sorry our best wasn’t good enough to save you all.
Faire
April 6th, 2009 at 11:03 pmIt’s about time the option was given to the families of our fallen military personnel, to decide if the public could view their return home. RIP Sgt. and God bless you.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:26 amOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 6:02 amsac ekimi