Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
CNN
February 10, 2009
The Situation Room (CNN), 5:00 PM
WOLF BLITZER: Let's go to the Pentagon right now.
Barbara Starr is working a story involving showing the American public those caskets of fallen troops as they come back to Dover, the US Air Force Base in Delaware. It's a sensitive issue that came up yesterday at the news conference.
What's the latest?
What are you hearing from the military today -- Barbara?
BARBARA STARR: Well, Wolf, it is one of the most sensitive issues for America's grieving military families. It looks like there may be some movement on it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR (voice-over): Rare photographs of the fallen coming home for the last time -- solemn ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base pay tribute. But for years, the Pentagon has banned news coverage.
ED HENRY: Will you overturn that policy?
OBAMA: We are in the process of reviewing those policies in conversations with the Department of Defense.
STARR: Indeed, it was after this exchange that Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked for a review. He says the ban protects families.
DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES: There were some privacy concerns. I think that looking at it again makes all kinds of sense.
STARR: Some family groups don't want anything changed.
KATHLEEN MOAKLER, NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOCIATION: It would be -- we feel it would be very unsettling to other families to see pictures of the flag-draped coffins and not know whether it's their son, their daughter, their husband, their mother in those coffins.
STARR: The restrictions started tightening back in 1989, when the first casualties from the invasion of Panama appeared on television at the same time President George H.W. Bush appeared light-hearted. Five years ago, Senator Joe Biden suggested the ban was kept in place to keep Americans from seeing the Iraq War dead.
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The idea that they are essentially snuck back into the country under the cover of night so no one can see their casket has arrived, I just think is wrong.
STARR: Congressman Walter Jones says it's a matter of paying respects.
REP. WALTERS JONES (R-NC): And one way to do that is when that flag-draped coffin is coming off that plane at Dover -- and you don't know the name, nor should you know the name, but you know it's an American hero. (END VIDEO TAPE)
STARR: Of course, all of this is coming as the Pentagon is telling American military families to get ready for the possibility of more casualties as the fighting is certain to ramp up in Afghanistan -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, unfortunately. All right, Barbara. Thanks very much.
February 10, 2009
The Situation Room (CNN), 5:00 PM
WOLF BLITZER: Let's go to the Pentagon right now.
Barbara Starr is working a story involving showing the American public those caskets of fallen troops as they come back to Dover, the US Air Force Base in Delaware. It's a sensitive issue that came up yesterday at the news conference.
What's the latest?
What are you hearing from the military today -- Barbara?
BARBARA STARR: Well, Wolf, it is one of the most sensitive issues for America's grieving military families. It looks like there may be some movement on it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STARR (voice-over): Rare photographs of the fallen coming home for the last time -- solemn ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base pay tribute. But for years, the Pentagon has banned news coverage.
ED HENRY: Will you overturn that policy?
OBAMA: We are in the process of reviewing those policies in conversations with the Department of Defense.
STARR: Indeed, it was after this exchange that Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked for a review. He says the ban protects families.
DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES: There were some privacy concerns. I think that looking at it again makes all kinds of sense.
STARR: Some family groups don't want anything changed.
KATHLEEN MOAKLER, NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOCIATION: It would be -- we feel it would be very unsettling to other families to see pictures of the flag-draped coffins and not know whether it's their son, their daughter, their husband, their mother in those coffins.
STARR: The restrictions started tightening back in 1989, when the first casualties from the invasion of Panama appeared on television at the same time President George H.W. Bush appeared light-hearted. Five years ago, Senator Joe Biden suggested the ban was kept in place to keep Americans from seeing the Iraq War dead.
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The idea that they are essentially snuck back into the country under the cover of night so no one can see their casket has arrived, I just think is wrong.
STARR: Congressman Walter Jones says it's a matter of paying respects.
REP. WALTERS JONES (R-NC): And one way to do that is when that flag-draped coffin is coming off that plane at Dover -- and you don't know the name, nor should you know the name, but you know it's an American hero. (END VIDEO TAPE)
STARR: Of course, all of this is coming as the Pentagon is telling American military families to get ready for the possibility of more casualties as the fighting is certain to ramp up in Afghanistan -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, unfortunately. All right, Barbara. Thanks very much.