Censorship, including self-censorship is one of the hallmarks of totalitarian regimes.
Barcelona, September 21 - the funerals and coffins of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan are routinely published by mainstream European media.
The prohibition on the publication of photographs of funerals and coffins of US soldiers was imposed during the presidency of Bush I, and was purportedly lifted in 2009 under Obama. It appears to continue today as self-censorship by "mainstream" media outlets, which is taken for granted by the public.
The censorship/self-censorship in this case keeps the public numb regarding a purposeless, losing, costly war, which only increases anti-American sentiments.
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Google query: ”Coffins of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan”
Hits: too many to count, and they come from “mainstream” media outlets
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Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Source: channel4.com
Source: guardian.co.uk
Source: liverpooldailypost.co.
Source: msnbc.msn.com [!!!-jz]
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Google query: ”Coffins of US soldiers killed in Afghanistan”
Hits: too many to count, but they mostly come from indie media outlets.
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Pentagon to allow photos of U.S. war dead
February 26, 2009 |
U.S. soldiers killed in combat in Afghanistan or Iraq have returned from the battlefield via Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. As their flag-draped caskets came off the plane, no news photographers were allowed to witness the scene, no reporters were allowed to interview families, no public record was made about the personal toll exacted by Washington's policies on individual soldiers and their families.
The policy was initiated by the first President Bush during the first Gulf War, and it was continued by the second President Bush, who always said the ban on cameras was designed to protect the privacy of military families. Critics responded that the policy was a public relations ploy to avoid personalizing a far-off war.
Now, the Obama administration has decided to open the gates of Dover. In a policy to be unveiled today, Pentagon officials told reporters, Defense Secretary Robert Gates -- the only holdover from the Bush administration -- will announce that news photos of flag-draped coffins will be allowed, as long as families agree.
-- Johanna Neuman
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Source: thewe.cc
Source: presstv.ir
Source: smh.com.au
Source: pubrecord.org
Source: guardian.co.uk
Source: france24.com
Source: dawn.com
Source: arcticcompass.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Source: mirror.co.uk
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