Media barred in death zone (Honore speaks)

The Age ^ | 9-11-05

[STARWISE]

THE US military is to bar journalists and photographers from documenting the recovery of bodies left on the streets of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina.

Lieutenant-General Russel Honore, the commander of the relief operation, said on Friday that while the military had allowed reporters covering the catastrophe free rein, it was now slamming the door shut out of respect for the possibly thousands of victims and their families.

"We've had total access to everything we've done — the good, the bad and the ugly — but that operation (the recovery of corpses) will be conducted with dignity and respect for the families," the general said.

"There will be zero access to that operation. It would not be good to have pictures of people, the deceased, shown on any media."

Lieutenant-General Honore called for published pictures of corpses to be removed from websites.

As the water is slowly drained by pumps — and more bodies are revealed — journalists will be restricted from entering the parts of the city that have been submerged.

[STARWISE]

You're right ... the ghouls have won ..this just posted on CNN. I just don't understand why they would cave on this issues .. incredible.

U.S. drops banning media from body hunt- CNN filed suit for access to search for New Orleans' dead

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Rather than fight a lawsuit by CNN, the federal government abandoned its effort Saturday to prevent the media from reporting on the recovery of the dead in New Orleans.

Joint Task Force Katrina "has no plans to bar, impede or prevent news media from their news gathering and reporting activities in connection with the deceased Hurricane Katrina victim recovery efforts," said Col. Christian E. deGraff, representing the task force.

U.S. District Court Judge Keith Ellison issued a temporary restraining order Friday against a "zero access" policy announced earlier in the day by Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who is overseeing the federal relief effort in the city, and Terry Ebbert, the city's homeland security director.

In explaining the ban, Ebbert said, "we don't think that's proper" to let members of the media view the bodies.

The judge was to consider granting a permanent injunction Saturday when the government announced its decision not to fight CNN's lawsuit.

In an e-mail to CNN staff, CNN News Group President Jim Walton said the network filed the the lawsuit to "prohibit any agency from restricting its ability to fully and fairly cover" the hurricane victim recovery process.

(snip)

.....Walton wrote, "CNN has shown that it is capable of balancing vigorous reporting with respect for private concerns."

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Mods: I leave it up to your judgement -- if you think this thread should be pulled.

[El Gato]

I suppose common decency is too much to expect.

It's the Mainstream Media. Any decency, common or otherwise, is way beyond too much to expect, depending on what you've been smoking or otherwise ingesting I suppose.

[snugs]

I have no problem with seeing the bodies covered up eg in body bags because that is the reality of the situation what worries me is the initial finding them being shown live especially if shown before families are advised.

These pictures would possibly identify the people that have died either from where they are found or what they are wearing/identifying marks etc and therefore relatives or friends watching would see before they are officially advised.

Shots showing long range recovery after the bodies are placed in bag or covered IMHO is acceptable but any photos before that should only be taken and used for official identification and autopsy purposes and should not be released to the media or general public.

[Spunky]

From Article: "At the request of CNN, a federal judge in Texas Friday night blocked emergency officials in New Orleans from preventing the media from covering the recovery of bodies from Hurricane Katrina."

I am so sick of the media. They DIDN'T want any pictures taken or shown of the 100's of people who jumped out of the World Trade Center, but they sure want pictures of all the dead and bloated drowning victims.

The difference is if they had shown the jumpers the people might have HATED THE TERRORISTS MORE, but if they show the bloated drowned people they will accomplish what they want and get a majority of the people to HATE THE GOVERNMENT MORE.

[ohioWfan]

Wonder why they are so gung-ho to publicize the corpses of this disaster?

Because the only thing that motivates any of them is a hatred for President Bush.

The death of 9/11 'helped' him, because he was responding to the attack with strength. The death from this hurricane 'hurts' him, because they have been screaming that it was his fault from Day 1.

This, IMO, will result in the death of what is left of the MSM's credibility. Their hatred for this President has been their demise.

[CFC__VRWC]

Where's Blank-o....???

Hidden away, only to be brought out for carefully selected photo ops with carefully scripted and focus-grouped lines.

Notice any pattern with those line-ups for the Sunday shows? VADM Allen vs. rabid-left hosts and race-warlord-in-training Obama? Lt. Gen Honore vs. rabid left host, rabid left Sen. Lanbrieu and lefty Sen. Collins? All around lib/Dim circle jerk on MTP?

[El Gato]

They santized the airwaves of 9/11 pics just days after the event. Wonder why they are so gung-ho to publicize the corpses of this disaster?

Not only did they sanitize, I don't recall many, if any, pictures of dead bodies even early on. They showed the soon to be dead bodies plunging from the towers, and may have shown a body bag or covered corpse, but I don't recall anything like the picture of the dead guy outside the Convention center. A guy clearly not killed by the storm, BTW.

[BallyBill]

Maybe the General can confiscate some cameras first and then deliver some street justice and explain common decency to some very ill people.

[marty60]

HUMMMM, that Bitch Blanco really is a coward and a charlatan. since she has abducted the throne are Gov. of LA, who takes her place.

[JimRed]

FRANKLY I AGREE WITH MY DAD VULTURES SHOULD BE SHOT ON SIGHT

You're giving vultures a bad name. Vultures and maggots clean up dead stuff, a partial solution to the problem. Media is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[Jokelahoma]

Now, let's see if we can get a judge to require than CNN, et al, gain permission from the families of survivors before their loved one's body is shown on national television.

Get to it, CNN! Start identifying bodies so you can then go and ask permission. Come on, CNN, we're waiting! Certainly a crew of vultures and vampires like you have forensic patholigists on staff and on call for just such a situation! Get to identifying! Go! Go!

[El Gato]

The difference is if they had shown the jumpers the people might have HATED THE TERRORISTS MORE, but if they show the bloated drowned people they will accomplish what they want and get a majority of the people to HATE THE GOVERNMENT BUSH MORE.

Now it's correct. They don't want us to hate the government, they want more government, but under Hillary Rhodam, John Kerrey or others of their ilk.

[Spunky]

"You know, my heart is broken," Nagin said. "And, you know, it's, it's a tough thing, when you see a city that you love so much, and you see it so devastated and so -- almost dead, and you wonder what the future looks like. I'm basically homeless now."

I was watching Dateline last night and when Nagin was asked if he would do anything different he said; YEA! I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED LOUDER.

What a jerk.

[martin_fierro]

lol

"If it rots, make sure to take shots"

[marty60]

Maybe in a cruel and heartless world. There is no excuse for vultures in N.O. That is what makes humans different, we are suppose to show our dead respect. Unlike the vultures of the media. THEY are just using them for political and ratings gains, nothing more or less.

Actually I wonder if there ARE any real vultures in N.O., or do they know better.

[CFC__VRWC]

....Walton wrote, "CNN has shown that it is capable of balancing vigorous reporting with respect for private concerns."

Keep this comment in mind when the MoveOn.org commercials superimposing images of bloated corpses over images of President Bush start hitting the airwaves in a week or so.

[snugs]

I agree photo ops (notice hands on hips) unlike the Vice President who in his body language shows his genuine interest and concern

Dick Cheney and Governor Kathleen Blanco talk with members of the US Army Corp of Engineers during a tour of the 17th street levee repair operations in New Orleans, Louisiana Thursday, September 8, 2005

[cripplecreek]

If there's decay, we're on the way.

[drpix]

The rats will take it to court! And why would the leftist media send leftist lawyers to leftist courts for such a ghoulish misuse of "constitutional rights"? As they are all loyal soldiers of democrat party leftists, here's my prediction:

[Mo1]

"We've had total access to everything we've done — the good, the bad and the ugly — but that operation (the recovery of corpses) will be conducted with dignity and respect for the families," the general said.

And what does CNN do??

Takes them to court to get the pictures

CNN repetitively reports on the body Count

Go ahead CNN .. I dare you to air those pictures

Because you will have a backlash from the American public like you've never seen before

Hey CNN .. could ya go any lower??