Please critique my ltte re: the Flag-draped coffins.

[w8liftinglady]

As the quagmire known as The War in Iraq drags on,4243 American troops have died,including 4 yesterday.If that is an incomprehensible number,it may be because the Department of Defense has banned photographing the return of the flag-draped coffins of our war dead when they return to Dover Air Force Base.
In an action of pure propaganda,The Department of Defense has forbidden media coverage of the returning caskets of our war dead to Dover Mortuary since 2003.As an effort to placate Americans by refusing to reveal the true cost of war,our government has denied multiple Freedom of Information Act requests for these photos.These coffins,draped in appropriate military honors fashion and accompanied by a color guard,are only allowed to land at night.Their families are not given the choice as to whether they would like a photograph published or not.The war dead simply do not exist to the mainstream media.
During President Obama's press conference on Feb. 9th,he was asked if he would overturn this policy.He replied "You know, people have asked me, 'When did it hit you that you are now president?'" he said. "And what I told them was the most sobering moment is signing letters to the families of our fallen heroes. It reminds you of the responsibilities that you carry in this office and the consequences of the decisions that you make."He is reviewing the policy as we speak,and hopefully will amend it.It is a great disservice to those who have paid the ultimate price for our Nation,their families,and the American people to hide the true cost of war.These Orwellian tactics hurt our nation through misinformation and deceit.

[lamp_shade]

1. A+

[bunkerbuster1]

2. A fine LTTE.

I wouldn't change a word. Except maybe it was overstating things a bit to refer to the war as a "quagmire"--I think it's enough to say it "drags on."

But mostly, you've done two important things:

1) Reminded Americans that we are, in fact, continuing to lose servicemen and women in Iraq;

2) Brought to light something from yesterday's presser that, I'll wager, most had already forgotten about. And they shouldn't, because that was a very good question to ask.

[Bonn1997]

3. Obama was definitely evasive on this isse

Overall I think he's more straightforward than most politicians but on this question, he completely evaded the question.

[potisok]

4. Honor

To me it is not as much about "refusing to reveal the true cost of war" or "hide the true cost of war" as it is the privilege to HONOR the men and women who have served our nation and paid the ultimate price. It is not OK to return the fallen in the dark of the night. I am thankful I was welcomed home, I resent that I do not have the chance to say thank you to them with a tear to a picture of their return home.

[Bonn1997]

5. The real issue is that

Pres Obama knows if people see the flag-draped coffins, they will get angrier over the war and put more pressure on him than he would like to get out of Iraq soon.

[w8liftinglady]

6. I agree.

If the family choses to have their loved one's photo unpublished,that's one thing.