I don't get it. We need to see the coffins for proof that people die during war? I don't need hard evidence to believe that our troops and the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan are dying. Here in CT we never get state tax refunds, most people owe something every year.

Absolutely. We should be able to see the coffins. It's not something that should be hidden in the darkness of the night. Our soldiers died to keep us safe. It's a freaking honor, not a sin.

I think there's a difference between being able to see the coffins, and is it our right to see the coffins. Yes we have every right to see the coffins, and it's bad etiquette to request that thosepictures be broadcast all over America. Yes they should be honored in death, but broadcasting the pictures is not honoring those soldiers.

Why would anyone want to see the coffins? I don't get it.

No, it's not the public's "right" to see the coffins of our fallen men and women. It is an honor to see them if the family so wishes to share it, it is not our right.

People 'want' to see the coffins because they 'want' to know and to have others know, exactly what war entails - whether you support a war or not, people are killed and we should 'be able' as a nation to face that. To see the caskets, without names, is our right and duty.

*I thought Bush was Cheneys "puppet"? hmmm there goes that theory.

*I get that some family members WANT the american public to See the sacrifice their loved one made,or to see the "reality" of War, as if not seeing is basically ignoring those facts , but I wouldnt personally want to have my loved ones coffin pictured for all to see, its a private matter.

Steph so if I support the war I should be okay with seeing the pictures? I dont agree. I can support it and not think the pictures are a good idea.

As for a picture of the coffins in transport or something like that, I have no problem with. I wouldn't say it's our 'right' to see those photos though. I've just always assumed they've been kept out of the press as a courtesy to the greiving families.

I think when it comes to individual coffins being picutred (like a coffin then being captioned: This is the coffin of Lt. So and So who was killed Here) is a family's decision. If they don't want their son/daughter/husband/wife/whatever relations' flag draped coffin shown, then I think we as a country should respect that. It is not a 'right' for us to see grieving families. We know death is a part of war. It doesn't mean we have to intrude on a family's loss and sorrow.

We are able as a nation to face the ultimate sacrifice of wars anytime we wish. Any day of the year we can visit a war memorial or a cemetery and fulfill that civic duty.

The ban should be lifted. The people of this country should see the cost of war. No names have to mentioned. The flag draped caskets speak for themeselves.

There's nothing in what I said that says you need to be okay with seeing the coffins CG. As always, you are free to do as you see fit.

"The ban was instituted just before the first Gulf War, by the first President Bush, worried that images of the dead coming home could affect support for the war, just as they had during Vietnam"

The ban never was in the interest of protecting the fallen or the families.

"As the Post notes, the ban is not something that's been around forever. In fact, it's a pretty recent policy, instituted for purely political reasons, with waivers given, also for purely political reasons. The ban was instituted just before the first Gulf War, by the first President Bush, worried that images of the dead coming home could affect support for the war, just as they had during Vietnam. And, as noted in the story, George W. Bush allowed images of a victim of the Pentagon 9/11 attacks to be shown, to stir up anger (as if we needed any more reason)."

This is an opinion, and not fact.

Anyone interested in tracing the history of the ban would find it's opinion based in fact: I personally recall that the timing of George H.W. Bush's decision to impose the ban coincided with criticism of him.

That Huff Po story made my stomach sink. That people want to be allowed to use flag draped coffins as a political game is simply disgusting! I really don't care why the ban was implemented in the first place. The number of dead is easy to find without exploiting the deaths of the soldiers. If you to see flag draped coffins then some artist should portray that in central park. Not use the actual dead. This is really, really disturbing.

I posted before I read any comments, because I was sick to my stomach and knew that someone would try to justify this. I agree with whoever said that if you want to see the result of war, you can go to a cemetery.

In regards to the coffins are they talking about a ceremonial broadcast where the coffins are the star of the show or are we talking about a few seconds on the 11 o’clock news? There is a huge difference and I'm in favor of the latter. IMO any nation that is completely sheltered from the price/consequence of War does not know what it means to be at War.

As for privacy personally I don’t see it as an issue. The coffins are draped in mystery each identical with an American flag so there is no identity involved.

During WWII, Casualty figures were routinely withheld, even the loss of warships was not always released in anything like what could be called a timely manner. It was acknowledged that such information was bad for moral in America. Nothing has changed in that opinion. It is just that folks now want to punish their own country for supporting policies and officials that they consider “evil”.

Let's just say that Cheney and Bush not be going out for a beer any time soon. The Scooter Libby thing caused a huge rift, I imagine.

janneth, I was under the impression that Cheney was on the plane with Bush when he left the inauguration for Texas. If I am right with that impression why would the two of them fly together as private citizens?

"It was acknowledged that such information was bad for moral in America"
So it's politicize or punish, those are the only two reasons?
How about simply to acknowledge exactly what war costs? The trouble with visiting a cemetery for that lesson is that the war dead are in with the soldiers who were able to die of old age.

Cheney was at the goodbye ceremony for Bush at Andrews after the inauguration, but he didn't fly anywhere with him.

Is there any rational adult in the world that does not recognize the cost of war? Is there that many people that have not visited or seen pictures of cemeteries that are dedicated just to war dead?

I think there shouldn't be a ban on seeing the coffins but the families of the fallen should have a say in it, some how. My husband is in the Marine Corps and he did two tours of duty in Iraq and his unit is going to Afghanistan in May and if he died I don't want to have his coffin or dead body used as some political tool. I don't want to see pictures of fallen men and women to influence me politically- to be used in crappy commercials for horrible candidates.

This reminds me of a song by Janis Ian called "Dance with Me" It always hit a chord with me.

"...I HEARD OF A PLAN
IN THE PRESIDENT’S MANSION
HIGH UP IN THE SKY
AND IT CALLED FOR A SACRIFICE
AND MY BROTHER PAID THE PRICE
SENT HIM HOME IN A BAG
THE AMERICAN FLAG
WAS DRAPED AROUND THE BOX
AND THE COFFIN LID WAS LOCKED
AND THE NOTE SAID “THANKS A LOT”
COME AND DANCE WITH ME
COME AND DANCE WITH ME
I’M HOME FROM OVERSEAS
I’M A CORPSE UP TO MY KNEES
CELEBRATE THE VICTORY..."

"Is there any rational adult in the world that does not recognize the cost of war?"
I know plenty of people who only recognized the cost when it affected them personally.

Knowing people doesn't make them rational.

Good point UnDave.