There is a ferocious battle of words under way about the photograph taken of a U.S. Marine who was injured and later died while fighting in Afghanistan. No one likes war we are told, and certainly no one likes causalities of young men and women. But when we make national policy decisions such as going to war we can not, and must not, insulate ourselves from the toll that the war takes on both sides of the conflict. Far too often we do.
It is natural of course not to want to look and see the carnage of our policies. Part of it is the lack of desire to see blood and death. Another part is deeper rooted in that when we see the effects of war and the death that follows we then recognize we are a part of the larger decision that allowed the war to start or continue. (This is a general statement about war, and should not be interpreted as being for or against our Afghan policy.)
It seems so sanitary when we see missiles depart a jet and wind their way to the target below. Often we have military brass that show a slow image-by-image viewing of such events for the press. There is the grainy black and white footage, and we are told the target was destroyed. But war should never be cleansed so that it resembles motion pictures. We should never think of war as an option that can be discussed as if we are planning on what airfield to refit, or what new missile the Defense Department should purchase.
War is hell.
Why should the only people to feel the effect of the war so fully be the ones at the front lines? Why should not the ones who make the decisions, and pay the taxes to support war also not be at least engaged enough with reality to see the consequences of our national policy?
Many will find the media to blame, but those vocal ones do not understand the role and duty journalists have to inform the citizens about the actions of their government. The rest of us do, and as hard as it is to see the picture, it is part of the war story. And it needs to be told.
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
We actually agree, in general principle at least, on this. As long as the photos and report are kept under wraps until the unit has either moved or strengthened its position / received reinforcements and until the Marine’s family has been notified, the photos should be released and published.
That hard part is balancing the need for the information to reach the public with the tactical and security needs of our soldiers and basic decency and courtesy to the fallen’s families.
Fuck you all. Parents said no. ANswer is no. Who the fuck are you to do this to them? Rot in hell you self serving rat pukes. Go and fight and see how you like it. See your kid’s pic on the front page as they lay ying and tell me its “the media’s” responsibility to print it. Fuck you all. Scum.
I allowed Tom’s angry white man rage post to showcase what we bloggers put up with, and why so many posts of this nature are deleted. 99.999% of this type of comment never makes it on my site.
I also allow this comment to showcase the lack of civilized debate that often is at the core of the weighty topics of the day. My post I thought was reasoned and presented with maturity. Some on the other side can only curse their way onwards.
Tom Milliken had his one moment of fame.
He will see no more here on this blog.
Did the families refuse? That wasn’t mentioned. If so, and AP published them anyway, I can understand Mr. Milliken’s outrage, though I somewhat wish he had been more eloquent in voicing it.
When a FAMILY has requested that it not be used: It should not be used. As next of kin, they should have final say over any photographs of that member. If this man had been modeling for her, she would have had to have him sign a release. I find this to be disrespectful in every way. To what length will cameramen and publishers go to increase sales? Julie: Next time get up off the ground, hand the camera to someone else, and maybe you’ll get lucky enough to be hit next. That should REALLY make for some facinating shots. Oh…and please don’t forget to take off your body armour. Want to make sure it’s as gory as possible. Absolutely pathetic. And so are you, rivers or whoever you are.
The family has no legal right for such a request. They do not control the images of their son. The image is one that needs to be seen.
Remember that you as a taxpayer and a citizen own this policy of ours in this war zone.
Actually recent laws make that point a little vague. Irrespective of the legality though, there is a common decency aspect to this as well.
I know that common decency rarely enters into the minds of activists, but it should.
So, Zeke…If this were one of your kids, would you feel the same…No…because his parents asked that the photo not be used…So I ask you again…if this was your son, would you want pictures of him mortally wounded, spread around, for the bogus logic of “good journalism”…? They lost their son in combat, something you would know nothing about, in service for his country, Zeke…Where’s the compassion…???
A young man very dear to me will be landing in Afghanistan tomorrow morning. He will be based in Helmand Province, FOB Tombstone and outlying areas as part of the sniper unit with the 82nd Airborne. No, I don’t NEED to see this. No wonder this world is full of drunks and druggies. Pictures like this fuel it.
No. We should have more photos!!!!! Maybe it will get our troops home. They are not doing any good there. Remember Viet Nam? Remember those pictures? Remember freedom of speach?
Zeke…what a jackass…I can’t believe you posted that…This is exactly why journalists don’t need to be embedded with military units…What a lack of respect shown for the fallen soldier and his family…Journalists have one thing on their mind…getting the most sensational stories/pictures. Yes, there are some that really want to just share the real experience…but getting the bigger and better “scoop” seems to be the more prevelent issue…It’s easy to sit back and
rationalize how it’s the “right thing”, when you’ve never had to face what these military heros go through…or their families…Why would you post this after all of the uproar, Zeke…??? I would ask you in the name of common decency, and out of respect for this fallen warrior and his family, to pull the photo…For the greater cause…which has nothing to do with journalists, or in your case, bloggers….Do the right thing Zeke…
My views were made clear in the post. Why would I take it down? I think it needs to be seen.
You must be new here Wally. When Deke writes something it is well thought out and reasoned, and therefore not likely to see a change in his thinking. He writes his convictions it seems. That is why I come here over and over. I admire that about him. I also happen to agree with him on this issue, but if you read here long enough you will find he has already thought issues over more than most and has his mind made up. Not wishy-washy like those in Congress I might add.
TF…
First, No, I’m not that new here…Second, I (we) have seen Deke screw up really big before…Third, your right…he most likely won’t change in his thinking…Fourth, most of the rest of what you had to say is irrelevant to what I said.
I still say that if his son was that Marine, shot up, and bleeding to death, he would not want that image, of his dying son, published for all to see…(and I pray that never happens, Deke..) I was just hoping, I guess, to see a compassionate side
overrule the sensationalism side…
Posting and leaving posted that photo is APALLING! The family made clearly known their wishes not to have this photo made public. War is hell, and the hell this family is going through I can’t even imagine! How dare you make it worse by disregarding their wishes under the guise of the public’s need to know the full story!
The people of this country do need to be made aware of what is happening and this is why we have journalists and reporters, but this was simply a grab for fame and nothing more! I am not sure what irritates me more; the audacity shown by doing this, or the fact that he IS getting the attention he was seeking.
As far as the soldiers at the frontlines being the only ones who “feel the effect of the war so fully”. What about this family? And all the other families that have lost a loved one? Do you really think they don’t feel it? Shouldn’t their feelings come first?
You ask, “why should not the ones who make the decisions, and pay the taxes to support war also not be at least engaged enough with reality to see the consequences ….” This question ignorantly assumes anyone paying taxes suuports the war. And that they are isolated from reality.
I pay my taxes because it is my privilege and responsibility as a citizen of this country, but that does not necessarily mean I approve of, or support, everything that is done with that money. Hand-in-hand with that comes the privilege and responsibilty to be informed. Something I take seriously, but I do not believe that my being informed is the trump card in this case. This is one picture that should have been left out!
Two points.
First, my point on the duty of journalists is quite clear throughout this blog. I have always advocated for the right of reporters to cover stories and report all that there is to report. More information and more pictures allows for better informed citizens. I also have argued that reporters serve as important a role, if not more so than soldiers. And if you think about it, you will understand why.
Second, I pay taxes, and am fine with that too. I feel it is my duty. The point I was trying to make if you read my post was that too often the actions of our government, and the policies that are made in our name, are not understood or followed by the citzens. It is moments like this that draw our attention to what is being done in your name, with your tax dollars.
So you do not care a bit about the families of of servicemen or their sensibilities?
NOTE: for the sake of legality and politeness, I have self-edited the rest of my reply.
Of course I care about the families. Would I write about the wars in the way I do if I did not?
But when a person is in the employment of the United States they are then more than just an average citizen. As one who pays the salary for that person, and through my respresentatives allow these employees to undertake a policy, I have the right to know, and the need to know, what is happening.
When JFK was shot should the tape have never been viewed by the public? That was much more graphic than the one picture here. What about the sensibilities of his wife and family?
Should we not show on the nightly news car accident scenes where the blood stained road is caught on video after kids die in a crash?
If we follow the line of thinking that has been advanced here by others we would live in a very different and sheltered society.
Again, my views are very clear in the post that has driven this dialouge.
Thank you for posting the link to the story.
After reading all of the hubub about the “photo” i went googling for it and happened on your blog.
I must say, before I went to the AP story, I basically knew we were fighting in Afganistan and that our boys were dying, but didn’t really give it much thought.
After hearing her report, and seeing the marines picture at the end, all I could do was ask the image, “What did you die for son?”, and I felt horrible.
Her report was very moving, and I thank you once again for helping me discover it, so that I can add it to other information to empower myself, as a self governed citizen…
War porn should not be shown. This is not war porn.
How can a life have value if death is not understood?
I care little for the politics or policy invoked by others. In my opinion, Deke has not dishonored the life or the death of this man by showing this picture.
I do not agree that it is our collective duty to see this photo but I see no reason to hide it away either.
I know the value of truth. That is what this picture is and I think too it needs to be seen. I come from a family of three generations of military men all in the Navy and know about the fear of this happening in families. But I also know this is about our nation at war and the real world that is out there. Our neighbors do not know about the real dread of war as they have no one serving. Images like this are tragic but keep the whole nation understanding what it is like for us. That is why this picture is important to be seen.
Bristol, VA
There is a great deal on the web tonight about this matter and while there is lots of emotion about the picture this is the first blog after many that deals with it in a different way. The comments here are much like the other blogs but the words of the writer seem to make sense. While I wish there was no death or even picture to talk about it seems the comments are all emotion and never address the points that this blogger raises. My wife and I talked about this and you know we really do not follow the war and it goes on and our life goes on. The oldest started college and we have not paid attention all summer to this problem. So the point in the writing hit home with my wife and I see her point as this blog was written I guess for folks like us. I am no Democrat and voted for McCain but this is a war that just never grabbed our attention. But kids are dying and that is what this guy was just a kid. I think much will be written about this in the news but this here was said in such a way that it connected with us.