U.S. Marines, killed in suicide attack, Iraq, June 26, 2008.
This is just one of the pictures of this war that our government doesn't want us to see.
Here's another:
It was taken January 18, 2005, in Tal Afar. This Iraqi girl's parents had just been killed by a U.S. Army unit at a checkpoint.
A photographer named Zoriah Miller took the first shot, Chris Hondros the second. Miller is no longer in Iraq; in fact, the Marine commander there is trying to get him barred from all U.S. military facilities around the world. Hondros, after taking the picture of the Iraqi girl, got kicked out of his embed, though he has since found another.
Yes, I know that censorship of images in wartime is not new. It was done in WWI and WWII, though restrictions were lifted at different times. And it's universally acknowledged that the freedom of photographers in Vietnam helped end that war; citizens back home were able to see what was going on, to appreciate the human cost.
But how many photographs have you seen of the human cost -- American and Iraqi -- of this war? How many times have we been told that we're not even allowed to see the return of flag-draped coffins? Is this because of concern over the privacy of soldiers' families, or because our government doesn't want us to know what's going on? After all, out of sight, out of mind.
Miller and Hondros have their own point of view about that. You can read what they say in this excellent and much-needed article in today's NYT.
That second photo...almighty God.
Posted by: fumphis | July 26, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Just more "collateral damage" -- our press corps has performed so shamefully throughout this entire episode. If I hear anymore cheerleading for the surge on television news, I swear I will puke. These people no longer have any conception of what the actual job of journalist is supposed to be.
Good for these two photographers for doing what everyone should be doing in the press. Showing the truth of things.
Posted by: Sir Charles | July 26, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Whether it is food production or war, a lot of America wants to be ignorant of the suffering involved and obviously certain people have an interest in keeping America ignorant. While the press may be partially to blame for keeping people ignorant their are also a lot of people who want to stay ignorant and get mad at the press for speaking the truth.
Posted by: John Rove | July 26, 2008 at 11:45 AM
When I saw these in the Times this morning, I thought, Hmmm...I wonder what blogger will have the balls to post these photos.
Thank you, Lisa, for the images and for your words.
Also, what fumphis said.
Posted by: litbrit | July 26, 2008 at 12:08 PM