Criticism from the Ministry of Defense on the Release of Photos of American Soldiers' Coffins - 2004-04-23

President Bush supports the Pentagon's decision to prohibit the release of more photos of American soldiers' coffins who were killed in Iraq. A White House spokesperson said on Friday that the President viewed some of the photos and referred to them as reminders of the sacrifice and dedication of our men and women in Iraq and around the world. However, the spokesperson emphasized the importance of respecting the privacy and sensitivity of the families of the deceased. The U.S. Department of Defense has criticized the release of the coffin photos. Pentagon officials stated that providing the photos to an anti-secrecy activist, who displayed them on the internet, was a mistake. The activist obtained hundreds of images of coffins wrapped in the American flag under the Freedom of Information Act and published them online. Many American newspapers printed some of the photos in their Friday editions. The Pentagon claims that to protect the privacy of soldiers' families and the dignity of the deceased, the release of such photos will be prohibited. Critics argue that this decision diminishes the impact of the war on American public opinion.