Pentagon Keeps Return of Iraqi War Dead from Media

[NNN0LHI]

I think this is BS and should be stopped. It is disrespectful to those who have died. Don

http://news.excite.com/politics/article/id/313753%7Cpolitics%7C03-28-2003::18:24%7Creuters.html

Mar 28, 6:11 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has no plans to allow media access to a U.S. Air Force base receiving the bodies of American soldiers killed in Iraq, a Defense Department spokeswoman said on Friday.

The remains of 18 soldiers killed in the Iraq campaign and six who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan have arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware since Tuesday. Each time, a military chaplain has uttered prayers and an honor guard has carried flag-draped aluminum coffins to waiting vehicles.

In some past conflicts, news cameras and reporters were allowed to record the transfer of soldiers' remains at the Dover base, which houses the U.S. military's largest morgue.

But a Defense Department spokeswoman said a policy in place since the 1991 Gulf War shields the return of war dead from the media spotlight and encourages family members not to attend. She said the policy was adopted at the urging of soldiers' families.

"No major conflict dating back to the Gulf War has permitted media coverage during a remains transfer," she said.

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[wtmusic]

1. 'at the urging of soldiers' families?'

unlikely.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

2. I'm shocked . . . SHOCKED that the Pentagon would do this.

Not.

[SoCalDem]

3. Army Times has a constantly updating list of the dead

It's at the bottom of their home page..includes date killed, branch of service, a bio and a picture if they have one..

I don;t think Afghanistan KIA are listed though.. (That war's SO OVER :eyes:..remember??)