Media

‘Real News From The Blaze’: Photos of Soldiers With Dead Suicide Bombers Bring Criticism to Troops and Media

Not every media outlet in the United States spent Wednesday participating in the endless red herring directed by the Obama campaign at Mitt Romney’s passed dog Seamus, which the Romney campaign gave into this week by bringing up the president’s dog eating days in Indonesia. Amidst all this nonsense, another story raised eyebrows Wednesday in the Los Angeles Times featuring images of U.S. troops posing with the mangled bodies of suicide bombers in Afghanistan.

A soldier from from the 82nd Airborne Division recently passed the graphic photos to the L.A. Times that were originally taken from the police station in Afghanistan’s Zabol province in February 2010. The paper published the images Wednesday morning as the Army has launched a criminal investigation following the Times revealing to officials copies of the photos, after the paper first received them. The Times reports on the graphic images:

Two soldiers posed holding a dead man’s hand with the middle finger raised. A soldier leaned over the bearded corpse while clutching the man’s hand. Someone placed an unofficial platoon patch reading “Zombie Hunter” next to other remains and took a picture.

[...]

The photos have emerged at a particularly sensitive moment for U.S.-Afghan relations. In January, a video appeared on the Internet showing four U.S. Marines urinating on Afghan corpses. In February, the inadvertent burning of copies of the Koran at a U.S. base triggered riots that left 30 dead and led to the deaths of six Americans. In March, a U.S. Army sergeant went on a nighttime shooting rampage in two Afghan villages, killing 17.

The soldier who provided The Times with a series of 18 photos of soldiers posing with corpses did so on condition of anonymity. He served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne’s 4th Brigade Combat Team from Ft. Bragg, N.C. He said the photos point to a breakdown in leadership and discipline that he believed compromised the safety of the troops.

U.S. military officials were swift to condemn the actions of the soldiers in the images released by the Times. Pentagon press secretary George Little commented, before the story was even published, that Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta “rejects the conduct depicted in these 2-year-old photographs.”

“Anyone found responsible for this inhuman conduct will be held accountable in accordance with our military justice system,” Little told The Associated Press.

Gen. John R. Allen, the U.S. commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said there is a strict policy for the handling of enemy remains and it dictates they be processed as humanely as possible.

“The incident depicted in the L.A. Times’ photographs represents a serious error in judgment by several soldiers who have acted out of ignorance and unfamiliarity with U.S. Army values,” Gen. Allen said to AP, adding that commanders “will collaborate with Afghan authorities and carefully examine the facts and circumstances shown in these photos.”

Considering the cost of human life that followed the Koran burning incident in February, some have questioned whether the Times should have even posted the photos that seem sure to rile up enthusiasm amongst terrorists. Times Editor Davan Maharaj addressed the issue, writing in the paper Wednesday:

“After careful consideration, we decided that publishing a small but representative selection of the photos would fulfill our obligation to readers to report vigorously and impartially on all aspects of the American mission in Afghanistan, including the allegation that the images reflect a breakdown in unit discipline that was endangering U.S. troops.”

Rather than Seamus, “Real News from The Blaze” focused Wednesday’s opening segment on the national security ramifications and questions regarding journalistic ethics that surround the Times piece.

Buck Sexton, “Real News” panelist and The Blaze’s national security analyst, cautioned that the public should not rush to judgement in reaction to these photos, which raise two questions for him. The first being; what motivated the soldier to leak these images knowing they could hurt his colleagues in the field, and that said, in addition to the incident happening two years ago; why were some of these images even published? Is the media only playing politics, and in doing so, putting troops at risk?

“Some of the media I should say, the liberal media, is much more willing to criticize–and in some cases really sort of just go after the troops,” Sexton remarked. “It‘s sort of the reverse of ’we support the troops but not the mission,’ which is what they said in Iraq.”

“I think we‘re starting to see they don’t want to criticize the mission too much, but they’re happy to go after the troops,” Sexton said.

Will Cain commented that the images immediately bring to mind prior incidents in Afghanistan involving troops and imprisoned or dead Afghans, espiecially the affair involving video of U.S. troops urinating on dead Afghans that made news last January.

With all that in mind, S.E. Cupp argued in support of those reporting on the actions committed in 2010, for they show clear images of where the system is breaking down and problems in the military that will hopefully now be addressed.

“This is a story that needs to be told,” Cupp said.

Cupp and Sexton came to a disagreement with fellow panelist Jedediah Bila on whether the photos, rather than just the report, needed to be published. Cupp and Sexton argued that the art work was unnecessary and dangerous, but Bila questioned whether the story would have ever have been addressed without the images.

Comments (76)

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  • TWO BITS
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:04am

    Speculation about the motives of the L.A. Times and the soldier who leaked the photos serves no purpose now. These soldiers have been exposed and are in serious trouble. Their sacrifices will be compounded by loss of reputation, even if they do not face criminal charges.
    Public support for the war in Afghanistan has evaporated, but even if withdrawal begins today, more troops will be maimed or killed, possibly as a result of this irresponsible event. I pray daily for the safety of men and women who serve in hostile environments, but I cannot defend the behavior displayed to worldview by these photos. Yes, the son of a close friend has served as a medic in Iraq and Afghanistan, a former neighbor was transfered to Fort Hood and then deployed to Iraq, and a high school basketball coach deployed with the guard to Iraq. I can’t visualize the veterans in my family or these long-time acquaintances playing with the severed limbs of cadavers. Sorry.

    Report Post » TWO BITS  
  • loveoursoldiers
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:59am

    More from the propaganda campaign.. or.. the Chicago way

    Trying to make Americans or illegals hate/distrust our military, police, SS…. like Obama does ? laying groundwork for the big transformation to Marxism.. and a new civilian force ( ? NBP)
    or are they trying to weaken all of the above for some reason.. so that when they propose XYZ.. Americans will already be programmed to respond in a certain way because someone is fixing a problem?
    All of this stuff is NOT a coincidence. Suddenly pictures surface from 2010?
    This is a really evil, dark plan. I thought we were coming out of the darkness? I think we are going the other way.

    Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
    • SgtB
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:25am

      I am a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the war in Iraq and I distrust the police, military, and SS. This distrust has developed over a few years of me witnessing the devastation caused by our current police state. I have watched the video of the murder of Sergeant of Marines Jose Guerera. I also realize that our judicial system is executing sovereign authority that it was not granted. I also have seen that our nation is imprisoning free men for non-violent “crimes” because a group of people here have decided that they have a right to interfere in other people’s lives and tell them what is best.

      And last thing. I do not distrust my fellow enlisted men. I distrust the officers who all spent 4 years in liberal and anti-constitutional training facilities before they were ever allowed to become officers. Especially those who have subsequently been picked and chosen for fast track promotion because of their socialist policies. Of course, limited duty officers and warrant officers I will trust far more.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • Evantoo
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 5:35pm

      What they REALLY need to remove from public view are all of those photos of our President with his hands over his crotch during the National Anthem. That and the pics of his wife walking away from the photographer. Now THOSE are enough to make one want to puke!
      Now that the nonsense is said and gone, if they can post pictures of bodies from terrorist attacks with impugnity, then what’s the problem of the them showing terrorists with those who removed said vermin from this world?

      Report Post »  
    • dshevlin
      Posted on April 20, 2012 at 9:30am

      It is interesting how the Times felt it was their duty to Americans to be impartial by showing some of these pics. Well if that is true then why are they not showing the pics of Afghans dragging westerners body parts through the streets. Why are they not showing pics/videos of these terrorists cheering over the corpses of our soldiers? Why are they not showing or printing how they kill innocent people? Why were we not allowed to see pics of bin laden but we can see pics of other dead terrorists??? WHY?? And how is that “impartial?” What team are you on LA Times?

      Report Post »  
  • bcope01
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:53am

    Lets see the photos of Obama eating dog.

    Report Post » bcope01  
  • hi
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:46am

    They almost were blown up for Heaven’s sake!!! They are celebrating that they are alive!!
    They should toss the legs into the fire with the burning Korans.

    Report Post » hi  
    • Grannie4news
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 2:54pm

      @HI I agree completely. I am sick of our military being criticized for something like this. He was a terrorist for Pete’s sake. I wish these news outlets that love to post crap like this had to be over there fighting these crazy people like the troops do.

      Report Post » Grannie4news  
    • 4blackhorses
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:36pm

      @ HI, along with GRANNIE, I completely agree, except why not make it their ******…let‘s see ’em meet the ‘promised 72 virgins’ with roasted k-”nuts.”

      Report Post »  
    • Ayla_me
      Posted on April 20, 2012 at 7:52pm

      The LA Times should be charged for murder if ANY of our servicemen die because of the choice to post these pictures. And BTW, where are the pictures of all of the attacks on Jews and Christians in the Mid-east and Africa??

      Report Post »  
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:44am

    SE Cupp is one hot piece of …but sometimes her progressive colors come out. For instance, the other day when she said she would love to work for the DNR and enforce the laws on people who break them…she supported throwing them in jail, but for how long she said was questionable.

    i get the idea she is a “my way, or the highway” type person. i do not like that.

    Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:27am

      That is exactly what she is. At first, I thought she was a Libertarian, but it only took a few minutes of listening to her after her big debut with Beck that I realized that she is a neoconservative. She likes guns and hunting, and that is great, but she is not a freedom loving American.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • MatrixRedPill
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:59am

    The White House needs to demonize and shrink the military and all law enforcement people NOW, because they know when SHTF, good people will love their country and do the right thing. Which is not going to help with the Left agenda of collapsing this country.

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:05am

    What the troops did was distasteful for sure, but what the media did was criminal. Good thing media is not held accountable for their actions like everybody else.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • StonyBurk
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:19am

      I agree with the Blaze. What was the motivation to the soldier? And my question to the Times what was their motivation. Did they even consider the consequence of publishing these photographs? That the images would suggest what has not been said -thus far.eighteen photographs were supposedly released. My experience is these could have been all taken by a single source on perhaps two or three different occasions the young men imaged will forever be remembered and the guy behind the camera forgotten. Who developed these films? How did this soldier receive these photographs unless he was the guy with the camera? Who was the voice egging on the sophomoric play? These are young men deployed to a place that should scare the crap out of any sane civilian. Death is a
      reality. the photographs say more about men trying to prove they are not afraid of death.Proving they are Macho men. The response of our American Media–and of the Military Leadership /i.e. Panetta–and his “boss” Barak Hussein Obama II proves the intent of this release. Without evidence of any “breakdown in Leadership -or discipline. other than at the unit level. And if there was a breakdown in
      either leadership or discipline certainly seems as if the soldier selling the pics was as guilty as any
      seen in these photographs.

      Report Post »  
  • The Exiled Keeper
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:02am

    Glen buddy, Tell S.E. she’s hot in those glasses. Pat, Stu, make Glen do it.

    Report Post »  
  • KURT1010
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 6:08am

    This shows you what the Military and the SS think of Obama. Did any of these things happen when Bush was in Office ?

    Report Post » KURT1010  
    • rangerp
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 6:55am

      Kurt

      Do you not remember the fiasco at Abu Graib prison? yes, it happened when Bush was president.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:31am

      Yes it did – once — and the whole world bashed Bush mercilessly for the incident. This kind of misconduct has happened several times under Obama, but now it’s the troops who carry all the blame. The Campaigner-in-Chief only acts as Commander-in-Chief when the troops carry out successful missions against high-level targets.

      Report Post »  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 1:09am

    Perfect timimg for releasing 2 year old photos. Wonder what else is waiting around the bin?

    Report Post »  
  • waspanglosaxon
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 1:00am

    The pro-desecration comments on here prove that the posters are as sick as the ZOG soldiers who commited these acts. There are certain things that civilized people simply don’t do: cannibalism, mass murder, torture, murdering civilians and children – and desecration of the bodies of the deceased. My God, isn’t it enough that they killed them? What‘s next for ’our’ soldiers to be photographed doing – giving their Afghan enemies the ‘Dahmer treatment’?
    Anyone who defends these activities is subhuman.

    Report Post » waspanglosaxon  
    • rangerp
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:33am

      waspanglosaxon

      The soldiers in these pics did not kill the enemy. The enemy killed themselves by planting road side bombs, or by suicide bombs.

      Not sure how many combat tours you have, as I only have three, and am no expert, but will give you my ten cents. When you live in the middle east, and you see an enemy that does not wear a uniform, hides amongst the people, uses women and kids as shields, and uses terrorism as his weapons, you get a little cold. When you see your fellow soldier, mangled, bleeding, or dead from suicide bombings, and IEDs, you get a bit cold. When you see children, women, old people, and innocent people get wounded and killed from insurgents, you get a little cold. When one day, the enemy from his own stupidity, accidently blows himself up, you might just find humor in it. Perhaps I am sick, but I found it funny when they blew themselves up by accident.

      I was an advisor for Iraqi National Police in 2007-2008. One of our check points when I was in Slaman Pak was hit by a suicide bomber, and some of our policeman at the check point were killed. Later in the day, we found the head of the suicide bomber stuck up in a tree. It was kind of a sick thing to find, but I still remember the Iraqi national police laughing when they were trying to find a way to get the head out of the tree by throwing rocks at it.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 11:13am

      RANGERP, Excellent post. You’ve really explained well how the results of war affect the hearts and minds of those in the middle of it. Trouble is, no matter how well it’s explained, there are just too many dunder heads who will simply refuse to understand. Furthermore, I have to call out WASPANGLOSAXON for his stating that there are PRO DESECRATION people posting here. I dare say that there are no pro desecration people here. There are many who tend to understand what happens to troops in combat. But, as somebody else so well stated, unlike during the Bush administration when the media and the whiners here screamed at the top of their lungs it‘s Bush’s fault and that he should be held accountable. Where are their shouts now to blame the commander in chief for the actions of HIS soldiers. Probably still Bush’s fault in the minds of these idiots.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:36pm

      There is a reason that the Geneva Convention on Land Warfare exists. Soldiers shouldn’t engage in this type of behavior.

      However, sooner or later, you just stop caring what happens to the enemy dead. All that is left is to bull doze them into a common grave to cut down on the smell or leave them in place if we were moving out. I was lucky. None of my troops collected souvenirs or fooled with the dead. We just looked for intel.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • TexasTall
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 2:44pm

      Waspan… etc. Have you been in the thick of battle with bloody Neanderthals with sophisticated weapon trying to kill you? Have you held the mangled body of a buddy in your arms while his life ebbed away? Have you endured weather extremes that no human or animal should have to while trying to dodge instant death? Have you had to deal with bizaare politically correct Rules of Engagement that favor your enemy and put you at a terrible disadvantage? I could go on, but you get the picture. Until you experience any of these conditions I suggest you think next time before you jump to criticize those who have.

      Report Post »  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:27pm

    The koran tells us civilized people what they plan to do with us…it’s not a mystery. The only way to deal with violent bullies is to give them heat and lead—repeat if necessary. Easy instructions.

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • helpsavethepeople
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:07pm

    Connect the dots, folks. You know how Liberals like to push out an agenda and everyone in the media say the same thing?

    The last one was “GOP War on Women” Then, the unplanned, Black Panther “Sea of Blood” was told by DOJ Holder to stop.

    So, this week it is the “White House War on the Military and Secret Service Men.” They need the American people not respecting the Military, so that the Liberals can do super hair cuts on the military budget, when SHTF.

    When SHTF, Liberals can then give the money to the Social Programs instead. That is why “The Sea of Blood” had to stop; they cannot afford to allow the general public to see all that ugliness from the African-American community.

    The April Offense on the Military started with Bill Ayers said, “Why do we have to allow the military to board the airplane first? “ The April ”Get the Military!” Agenda is going smoothly for Obama, Holder & Leon Panetta !!

    Today, Monday it was the ****** gate, then it is the photos. What is next ?

    Report Post »  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:21pm

      Helppeople , Those Wheels Go Round In Circles and Jay Carney is the D.J.

      Report Post » DEFCON4  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:56pm

    So why are our troops still there? I have no issue with anything these men do. They have been there too long so I hold the commanders at fault not the troops.

    Bring them home, bring them home now. Quit rebuilding a country that will never be like us. We are broke and our troops are tired. You ass clowns that voted in Romney as the nominee are just as much at fault as the Obama idiots.

    Report Post » Mutiny  
  • JP4JOY
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:51pm

    So the editor and chief of the L.A. Times decides to run the series of pictures he was expressly asked not to run. Davan Maharaj was born in Trinidad & Tobago grew up in East Africa and attended Columbia University before he started working at the Times. Wanna bet he is Muslim and hates the USA. I say we should copy France, ban the burka/hagib, ban public call to prayer and hope like heII that their leaders call the faithful to leave this country too.

    Report Post » JP4JOY  
  • strawberry411a
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:31pm

    Inhuman conduct? Just kill ‘em and move on. With all the krap going on in that country, strangely I find myself totally unexcited or interested in the photograph of a group of dead suicide bombers who have no qualms about killing themselves and others. Guess I am insensitive. So sue me.

    Report Post »  
  • Atilla
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:31pm

    I think that the real story is the extent to which the Secretary of Defence, another Marxist idiot and the armchair political General, was complicit it throwing the military people under the bus. The 82nd Airborne have born some of the worst combat situations in theater and multiple deployments. The Marxist morons in their haste to pacify the Islamic 14th century combatants throw our own people under the bus. Who the f—- wants to serve these idiots in the political establishment.

    Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 11:25am

      Panetta is just the actual job that he was assigned to do. I saw his true colors back during the Clinton admin.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:15pm

    Parts is parts…

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • barber2
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:01pm

    For crying out loud. These soldiers were holding the body parts of men who had tried to blow THEM to pieces. Don’t think the guys in WWII worried about all of this PC stuff.. but then Americans were all behind them AND so was the media. It was before the I Hate America Crowd, fed by our Communist professors, began such an influential part of the American educational system. War is Hell. And so is the world view which the Taliban and their friends have in mind for us. Thanks, LA Times for giving our enemy more ammo for their savvy media guys to incite more violence against our troops . You should be renamed the Tokyo Rose Times . Two years old photos and Obama has already announced our exit ? Necessary ? No. Just another Lefty media shot at America. You don’t “ support” our troops this way with 2 years old photos of guys who blew themselves up. Guess they didn’t teach that in journalism school or at home. Maybe Yellow Journalism school .

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:32pm

      Correction : change “ yellow” to red.” You are the types that Joe McCarthy so ineffectively warned America about so many years ago. Had always been taught he was a kook but, in light of what is going on in America today ……

      Report Post »  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:56pm

    Are the soldiers supposed to be respectful to the bodies of suicide bombers? What for? These suicide bombers didn’t have any respect for their own bodies in that they wanted to blow themselves from limb to limb! They certainly have any respect for the people they wanted to kill. Cleaning up a mess like that is about as gruesome as it gets. Probably the only way to stay sane and to keep from puking everywhere is to have a sense of humor.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:55pm

    It’s not like the soldiers sprayed the remains with golden showers. What’s the problem? Only thing I can think of is, it makes obama look like a heathen only interested in one thing, his re election.

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:44pm

    This reminds me so much of VietNam when the Bill Ayers types were out protesting the war , demonizing the soldiers , and calling the police / authority ” pigs.” The Liberal media , like the NYT , all doing the same anti-war editorials . Slanted news. In the streets the Weatherman/ The marijuana / drugs / sex/ rock and roll crowd. Just a new re-do at our Occupies. Not much has changed . The Lefties. Only they are more vocal since they have so many “ adults” in positions of power and they have the entire dominant media in their pocket.

    Report Post »  
  • jungle J
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:43pm

    the communist that gave them the pictures should rot on the battlefield.

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:17pm

      probably be working soon in the White House

      Report Post »  
  • johnpaulkuchtajr
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:40pm

    I thought that the photo of the two legs left behind by one of the opposition was sad only because “How is he going to catch any of those 40 virgins?”

    Life is full of irony, ain’t it?

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:35pm

    Damn… it’s just scraped up Road Kill!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • dublinthewagons
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 4:51am

    How many have done as many tours of duty as these young men. Personally I could care less what they do. Polititans won’t let them win the war. Make the draft dodging liberal left fight it.

    Report Post »  
  • disgustedandappalled
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 5:47am

    I agree. The dead terrorists got what they deserved…..death. I will never forget the pictures of our comrades in arms strung up in public places. Who allowed that? Perhaps we should allow the local people of Iraq and Afghanistan to demonstrate hanging terrorists in their neighborhoods as to exemplify what happens to those who decide to radicalize their believes in their own religion.

    Report Post » disgustedandappalled  
  • Doctor Nordo
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:12am

    So you would have us lower ourselves to their level? Isn’t that something your parents taught you not to do around the age of, oh I dunno, five?

    Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
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