By lex, on September 4th, 2009
Defying the wishes of a dead Marine’s father and the Secretary of Defense, the AP published photographs of the young man’s last moments:
The AP reported that the Marine’s father had asked – in an interview and in a follow-up phone call — that the image, taken by an embedded photographer, not be published.
The photo shows Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard of New Portland, Maine, who was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush Aug. 14 in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, according to The AP…
(Gates wrote) “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering Lance Corporal Bernard’s death has caused his family. Why your organization would purposefully defy the family’s wishes knowing full well that it will lead to yet more anguish is beyond me. Your lack of compassion and common sense in choosing to put this image of their maimed and stricken child on the front page of multiple American newspapers is appalling. The issue here is not law, policy or constitutional right – but judgment and common decency.”
As for me, I think young LCpl Bernard and his family had given enough. But, you know: There was money to be made from their suffering and sacrifice.
Probably a no-brainer, for the AP.
* 09-11-2018 Link Gone; no replacements found – Ed.
** 09-11-2018 Original link gone; replacement found – Ed.
