Was Obama in favor of allowing the media to photograph dead U.S. soldiers returning home? I honestly don't recall. But if so, I think he's doing himself a disservice by not showing the public the photo of Bin Laden. I'm not questioning the wisdom of such a decision--I think there are a lot of reasons why it is a smart thing he's doing. But I am also concerned that there will be too much skepticism and conspiratorial thinking if BO doesn't release the photo (I believe they'll ultimately be forced to release it, right or wrong, unless wikileaks gets it first). Some will probably also say who does BO think he is that only he and a select few get to see the proof of the death of our greatest enemy this century (thus far) while the rest of the world must lay in doubt and trust them at their word (which doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people)?
Anyway, just a thought. I bet the picture comes out, right or wrong. But I am curious what BO's position was on the release of pictures of U.S. soldiers' bodies by comparison. If he was in favor of it, wouldn't that essentially amount to giving greater respect to our enemies than we gave even our own brave men who we sent into battle on our behalf?
This is not meant to be a political pot-stirrer.
pkcRAISTLIN
i wasn't aware that there were photos of servicemen's bodies published. if so that's pretty average for those that knew them :/
i dont really see the point of providing photos to placate idiots who probably wouldn't be convinced anyway. i think the US in this instance has conducted itself rather well (and this coming from someone who would love to see the pics of osama).
if you're one of those "in the know" and you're convinced osama has been killed by your efforts and is no longer a threat to anyone, what does it matter if there are some fools who doubt the veracity of your statements?
Shakka
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
i wasn't aware that there were photos of servicemen's bodies published. if so that's pretty average for those that knew them :/
i dont really see the point of providing photos to placate idiots who probably wouldn't be convinced anyway. i think the US in this instance has conducted itself rather well (and this coming from someone who would love to see the pics of osama).
if you're one of those "in the know" and you're convinced osama has been killed by your efforts and is no longer a threat to anyone, what does it matter if there are some fools who doubt the veracity of your statements?
Fair points. I'm just betting that somehow the public will force his hand. Sure, some will never be convinced, sure some will probably be incited by the sight of the photo if it is ever released. I'm just betting on the general way the masses think. If they know the photo exists, they will find a way to get to it.
I mentioned the servicemen's bodies because it was a hot-button issue when the first dead soldiers started returning from Iraq/Afghanistan. The media collectively basically said it was their duty and within their rights and the interest of the general public to show the bodies (or perhaps more accurately, the coffins) of soldiers KIA....and I want to be sure he's being consistent. To his credit he was against showing pictures of malfeasance at Gitmo.
In a reversal of an 18-year-old military policy that critics said was hiding the ultimate cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the news media will now be allowed to photograph the flag-draped coffins of America's war dead as their bodies are returned to the United States, but only if the families of the dead agree.
The decision, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday, lifts a 1991 blanket ban on such photographs put in place under President George Bush. It chiefly affects coffins arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan that go through Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The military said the ban protected the privacy and dignity of families of the dead. But others, including some of the families as well as opponents of the Iraq war, said it sanitized the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was intended to control public anger over the conflicts.
So, if the Muslims and OBL supporters demand to see the evidence, why not release it?
pkcRAISTLIN
I think the issues are quite different. For starters we’re talking about coffins and not bodies, there’s a lot less dignity showing bodies imo. Also, I think the US should have a right to be shown an up-close-and-personal representation of the cost of their foreign policy. As they say, out of sight out of mind; the cost of the wars shouldn’t be hidden from the public.
That said though I wouldn’t have an issue with osama’s photo doing the rounds (like I said I’d like to see it) but it could come at some cost at some stage (though terrorists will be terrorists regardless obviously).
Shakka
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
That said though I wouldn’t have an issue with osama’s photo doing the rounds (like I said I’d like to see it) but it could come at some cost at some stage (though terrorists will be terrorists regardless obviously).
Sure. Though it's not like the Seals burned his body, strung it up on a bridge and hurled shoes and rocks at it...
I think I really just don't like my government trying to tell me they can decide what is and isn't appropriate for me to see. Why don't they take the same stance with people who stand outside abortion clinics with big pictures of aborted fetuses? That's pretty offensive and unsettling.
Meh, just trying to have a discussion on this dead board.
