Showing Death in Iraq -- Insensitive or Necessary?

neil_r wrote in post #6045494
Remember that the definition of "the bad guys" is going to be subjective.

Absolutely true but I was speaking to the point made above me which mentions a "recruiting office" so I went US-centric.

Of course, the "other side" is actively recruiting as well so your point is well taken.

I passed by a road accident last night for this reason.
There's nothing gained in other peoples misfortune

"Taking pictures of dead bodies for no better reason than political propaganda is always unfair and immoral to any solders, in any war.
If you cannot make a viable political statement without showing dead bodies, you cannot make it at all, period".

I could not disagree with the above statement more strongly. The Politicians who take us into these conflicts are too thickskinned to understand subtle arguments. I'm all for bringing home the reality of war, because only with public opinion firmly set against these idiots in our various Governments will it ever stop.

well? I guess it depends... were the pics used to sell papers or mags? or were they used like this... on the net, to tell a story? its wrong if they were used to sell time or news papers or magazines..

Derweissehai wrote in post #6045656
I serve full time right now.

Thank you for your service.

I think the biggest thing here is that the PJ did not publish photos of dog tags and name plates; which he did have. He said it in this interview:

Zoriah Miller with Laura Ingraham


His choice of not identifing the bodies is important. He picked photos that told the story the way a PJ should, but he choose to have some respect for the soldiers.

"Dead men have indeed died in vain if live men refuse to look at them."

I know a couple people in my family who served my country and Commonwealth countries of their birth that would wholeheartedly agree with this.

cosworth wrote in post #6045893
"Dead men have indeed died in vain if live men refuse to look at them."

I know a couple people in my family who served my country and Commonwealth countries of their birth that would wholeheartedly agree with this.

Cosworth hit it right on the money.

Derweissehai wrote in post #6045656
Like the video of the american gettign his head cut off. That was never meant to be put on web sites for our children to watch.

Of course it was meant for people to watch.

It was filmed with the sole purpose of making people NOT fight - they see it, they think - this might happen to me and they don't go to war.

It's not a private video project, it's war propaganda.

cosworth wrote in post #6045893
"Dead men have indeed died in vain if live men refuse to look at them."

Whose quote is that?

An editor fashioned the headline (the quote) at LIFE when the magazine published similar photos during the Spanish Civil War.

mattograph wrote in post #6043894
I just finished listening to an interview with Zoriah Miller, a photojournalist who very recently was "dis-imbedded" for publishing photos of dead US Marines following a suicide bombing in Iraq.

Here is the link: (these photos are very graphic, and not work safe)

http://www.zoriah.net …de-bombing-in-anbar-.html

Zoriah Miller is a self-described humanitarian, who is apparently against the war. Some have attributed his motivations to political ends. Whatever the case, the question is:

Does this type of imagery violate the memory of those who have fallen? Is it unfair to the Marines and their families? Is it unfair to the Iraqis and their families?

Are they images that we NEED to see?

Note: To my knowledge, the Miller has not used these photos to actively support a political position. In his interview, he consistently maintains that his political views are entirely separate from his work as a photojournalist.

We don't need to see these I find it wrong to show these If he worked for me he would be fired.

shadowcat wrote in post #6046371
We don't need to see these I find it wrong to show these If he worked for me he would be fired.

Why?

If we don't do what authority tells us to do, we will have to think for ourselves.

Dilewar.

I would have had no problem with any of the Marines on site kicking Miller's ass for taking photos of fallen Marine's. Miller is a piece of @% (INVALID EMAIL)#, IMHO.

ipschoser1 wrote in post #6046490
I would have had no problem with any of the Marines on site kicking Miller's ass for taking photos of fallen Marine's. Miller is a piece of #@%#, IMHO.

How do you feel about photos of fallen civilians?