The Pentagon is again trying to restrict photographic coverage of the war in Afghanistan.
“Media will not be prohibited from viewing or filming casualties; however, casualty photographs showing recognizable face, nametag or other identifying feature or item will not be published.”
Censorship is censorship, however you phrase it. Reporting the news may require the publication of photos that will alarm, offend, and illuminate. That’s why we have an independent press, and the press itself should be wary about becoming embedded manipulators of the Pentagon’s version of events.
There’s nothing wrong with informing the next of kin if a soldier is killed, but it is ludicrous to give the family control over whether photographs are published.
This hasn’t happened in previous wars, but this time there seems to be a desire to pretend that wars do not kill and maim, or that killing and maiming is the natural consequence of this particular type of foreign policy.
Gorilla says: “Killing is not thrilling, censorship is chilling!”
