Posted on 09/05/2009 9:51:58 AM PDT by Bulldawg Fan
NEW YORK – Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed disappointment Friday at news outlets that used a picture taken and distributed by The Associated Press depicting a U.S. Marine mortally wounded in combat in Afghanistan.
The AP distributed the picture despite personal pleas from Gates and the dead Marine's family in a case that illustrated the difficult decisions in reporting on a conflict where Americans have seen relatively few images of fallen U.S. troops over eight years.
The picture, by AP photographer Julie Jacobson, showed Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard, 21, lying on the ground with severe leg injuries after being struck by a grenade in an ambush on Aug. 14, his fellow Marines tending to him. Bernard later died of his wounds.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Where is that right to know when it comes to criticizing the Obama administration? Dead silence. This sort of action makes me sick at my stomach. The print media cant die fast enough for me.
The Establishmedia hates our Troops.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2332782/posts
Pray for the Tea Party Express
If Obama were struck by a roadside bomb attack, would the AP publish the same picture of him?
As a Marine, I am not offended by the photo. It is a fact of life that Marines suffer and die far from home.
I understand that the family did not want to see the graphic image, but I don't see a reason to condemn the AP for publishing the image.
It was most likely a relative of Obama who chucked the grenade anyways.
The MSM is the lowest of the low.
I guess you would call it common decency. Sorry you missed that point.
It seems like the ‘media’ have backed away from taking photos of coffins being unloaded at Dover AFB. They agitated for access all during the Bush Administration. Now that their boy is in the WH, they are “respecting” something by not showing any coffin photos.
Could it be because this August was the month of the highest American mortality in the entire Afghanistan campaign?
As the mother of a Marine I understand why the family wouldn’t want the photo broadcast everywhere. Yes, Marines die far from home but it seems the very least WE (and that includes the press) can do is respect the wishes of the family who will never again see their loved one. Maybe some families wouldn’t care if the photo was made public but this family did. Do we have no obligation to respect the wishes of a grieving family? Haven’t they sacrificed enough?
Cindie
I see nothing decent in turning a blind eye to the courage of our fighting men and women or to the terrible cost they alone bear to ensure our freedom.
I am a Marine, too(Once a Marine, always a Marine). And, I went to the Huffington Post to see the picture, and the picture did not offend me for I have seen worse than that.
What offends me is your criticism of the poster for his/her comments regards AP. Why go out the way for that when almost everyone on this forum is well aware of AP’s innate bias against anything military or right leaning(You, apparently, are an exception.)? Are you trying to prove your “moderate” BONA FIDES, your holier than thou condition?
So, AP should just disregard the request of the people who loved that Marine, prayed for that Marine, and now grieve for that Marine? Just so it can propagandize about war? Because AP is NOT about showing the courage of our warriors, it’s about propagandizing against any war an American is involved in.
I don’t believe you are a Marine. No Marine I know (and there are a few in my family serving NOW) would be so callous about the family’s wishes.
Because it is disrespecting his family’s sacrifice.
“They also serve, who only stand and wait.” Milton
Tatt
Izzatzo, I have not criticized any poster/commenter, I simply expressed my opinion.
I am neither moderate nor holy.
enjoy your holiday weekend.
The MSM lost interest in coffins when they could no longer impugn George Bush or Sarah Palin with them.
Quite obviously.
Thank you for your service and for your thoughts.
As a civilian, I studiously avoid gory images; but I make an exception for our military personnel, to remind me that politics wants me to be blind deaf and dumb, but the real world is ugly and violent, and evil is everywhere.
The sanctimonious can preach on my deaf ears all they want, but "common decency" is a phrase used most bu those without a clue. No one should be forced to see such images, but nobody should be prevented from seeing them by means of empty platitudes.
As the dad of a US Marine I take issue with the statement
“the difficult decisions in reporting”
The AP seem to act just like old-fashod whores, they do anything for a buck.....
THe family asked the photos not be used, but the AP, perhaps smelling the $$$ went for the dough.
Prayers for the family and hopes the photos does not wind up in a textbook or other publication.
WOW..Gates is DISAPPOINTED. What a wuzz.
Exactly!
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