Story Highlights
NEW: Mother of dead soldier says, "I wanted the nation to grieve with me"
NEW: Vietnam vet asks "What is the greater good?" of anonymous casket
Defense Secretary Robert Gates to announce decision at 2 p.m.
Gates ordered review after President Obama requested info on longstanding ban
From Barbara StarrCNN Pentagon Correspondent
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/26/pentagon.media.war.dead/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon will lift its longtime ban on media coverage of the flag-draped coffins of war victims arriving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, according to a senior U.S. defense official with direct knowledge of the decision.
The coverage must be approved by the victims' families, however.
Advocates of opening the base to coverage say the unmarked coffins make it impossible to identify specific remains.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is to announce the change at a news conference at 2 p.m. ET, the senior official said. He ordered a review after President Obama asked for more information on the long-standing policy.
Though the Defense Department won't confirm it, it is widely accepted that the ban began after the December 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, which deposed dictator Manuel Noriega.
After a news conference held by President George H.W. Bush, his press secretary made a humorous comment, causing the president and reporters to laugh.
At the same time, viewers were watching coffins of the first casualties from the invasion being unloaded at Dover.
The following year, when the Persian Gulf War began, the Pentagon banned media coverage of war dead being returned to the base.
One of the family members who favors lifting the ban is Karen Meredith of San Francisco, California, who wrote Obama urging him to order the change.
Lt. Ken Ballard left for Iraq on Mother's Day in 2003. He came home in a casket on Memorial Day 2004.
"I wanted the nation to grieve with me, and if we don't see those images we don't know that these young men and women are dying," she told CNN.
"And to me its an honor to have an honor guard at Dover when they're bringing these men and women back through the mortuary. But we've never been able to see those pictures of the honor being given."
Others say the honor should remain private.
"When they come off the plane, these are anonymous caskets. What is the greater good of that," asked Vince Rangel, who was an Army Ranger captain in Vietnam.
"I would rather take that attention and give it everything it deserves at the gravesite in the communities where you can get all that information, so people can understand these people as human beings. Not just as a flag-draped casket that comes out of a plane."
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said about two weeks ago that a good deal of input needed to be collected from a number of sources, including Pentagon offices representing family interests, the Defense Department's public affairs office and the various service branches.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
CNN BREAKING NEWS: PENTAGON LIFTS BAN ON PICTURES OF FLAG DRAPED COFFINS
ACTION-PACKED IRAQ WAR VIDEO---MUSIC "WORLD WAR III" BY KMFDM (DON'T MISS)
This is a NEW video showing brutal combat action with music by KMFDM. Be sure to turn up your speakers and enjoy this non-stop action-packed combat video.
WATCH VIDEO HERE WITH SPEAKERS TURNED UP:
http://www.youtube.com/v/Ht47Ub6S0JY&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
ONE OF THE BEST COMBAT VIDEOS YOU'LL EVER SEE (MUST SEE)
From the opening footage, this video is non-stop combat action showing US troops fighting in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN. The action never stops. Be sure to turn up your speakers so you can hear the song and the lyrics from "I'm Alive."
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/DRC5yTtxvko&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
TENSIONS MOUNT IN AFGHANISTAN. NEW VIDEO ABOUT OBAMA'S PLAN FOR 17,000 MORE TROOPS TO REGION (MUST SEE)
This is a NEW video which explains the tense conditions in Afghanistan and how President Obama is going to send 17,000 more American troops to the region.
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/xBwgvVr74n0&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
NEW COMBAT VIDEO: MY SECOND EXPERIENCE IN AFGHANISTAN--THROUGH EYES OF A DOOR GUNNER (FANTASTIC VIDEO)
This is a NEW video of a GIs second tour to Afghanistan as a door gunner on a AC-130 Gunship.
The video is brutal at times, but this is war and not a video game.
TURN UP YOUR SOUND FOR BEST VIEWING
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/o5dxlPYzo_E&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
NEW COMBAT VIDEO: METALLICA'S "FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL"---ARMY AND MARINES IN TENSE COMBAT (MUST SEE VIDEO)
This is a NEW video with METALLICA performing "For Whom the Bells Toll" as units of the U.S. Army and United States Marines engage insurgents in fierce firefights.
TURN UP YOUR SOUND FOR BEST VIEWING
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/DPcJ5Ii6j0A&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
ASS-WHOOPING OF TALIBAN BY AC-130 GUNSHIP IN AFGHANISTAN (BRUTAL NEW VIDEO)
This is NEW footage just released of an AC-130 Gunship attacking ground positions of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Be sure to turn up your SOUND so you get to hear the pilots and crew of the AC-130 Gunship get their orders about what Taliban ground targets to wipe out.
TURN UP YOUR SOUND FOR BEST VIEWING
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/59tYVPYhb8k&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
VIDEO SALUTING OUR WOMEN WARRIORS---DOLLY PARTON SINGS "HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS"
This video is a salute to our women warriors who far too often are forgotten in all the war coverage. They are tough and they are ready to protect the United States of America.
Dolly Parton adds to this video with her rendition of "Hard Candy Christmas."
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/v/N_bvX7ixXEU&hl=en&fs=1
CLICK ON DIAMOND-SHAPED ARROW TO PLAY VIDEO
