US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates criticized the US news agency The Associated Press (AP) for distributing a photograph of a mortally wounded Marine in Afghanistan.
Gates, in a letter on Thursday to AP president Thomas Curley, described as “appalling” the news agency’s decision to distribute the graphic picture of Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard to its clients.
Gates said the decision was made “over the objection of Lance Corporal Bernard’s grieving father” and he asked AP “in the strongest of terms to reconsider.”
“Why your organization would purposefully defy the family’s wishes knowing full well that it will lead to yet more anguish is beyond me,” the Pentagon chief wrote.
“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,” Gates said.
“The issue here is not law, policy or constitutional right — but judgment and ... decency,” he said.
AP issued a statement defending its decision to distribute the picture, which was taken on August 14 by an AP photographer, Julie Jacobson, who was embedded with Bernard’s unit in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.
The picture shows Marines helping the 21-year-old Bernard, who suffered severe leg injuries when he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush. He died shortly afterwards.
“We believe this image is part of the history of this war,” AP senior managing editor John Daniszewski said. “The story and photos are in themselves a respectful treatment and recognition of sacrifice.”
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