AP Publishes Photo Of A Mortally Wounded Marine In Afghanistan

This undated photo provided Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 by the US Marine Corps shows Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard, 21. Bernard was hit with a rocket propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 in the village of Dahaneh in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He later died of his wounds. (AP Photo/USMC)

WNU Editor: I usually do my blogging at around 5:00 AM .... that is when I do my reading and writing as well as compiling a number of posts to be posted at hourly intervals.

I had to go to a meeting at 9:00 this morning, but before leaving I came across a post from the AP on a story of a fire fight that killed Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard. I read the story and felt that it should be included in today's posting. In the "My Comment" section I remarked that it is a story that I wish the AP could do more often because it brings to us back home a realization of what our soldiers are going through. I completed the post about this firefight (it can be read below), and before leaving I came across the picture of the mortally wounded marine.

My heart sank.

Since running this blog I have come across (or been emailed directly by people in war zones) literally hundreds of pictures of people being killed or injured from combat, terrorism, IED attacks .... sigggghhh .... the list is long and always heart breaking to see.

As a rule I never post these pictures .... and I never will.

I do not know why my heart sank with this picture .... I have seen many before. It was only later that I realized why .... it is picture from the AP, and it is a picture that will be published every where.

My heart did not sink for me .... it sank for the family of Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard and what they must now go through. A horrible death pictured for everyone to see for all time. No family deserves this .... and certainly not the family of a fallen marine.

AP showed no consideration or respect for the family of Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard. They published this picture because it suited their own political agenda .... nothing less and nothing more. Damn them .... and damn those who support this type of reporting.

Update #1: I cannot confirm it, but it appears that the AP has brought down this picture. Unfortunately, their affiliates already have them .... and many of them have already published it.

Update #2: At least some people agree with me, and are making their remarks known .... Robert Gates protests AP decision as 'appalling'. I hope that President Obama and/or Vice President Biden will also come out to condemn this type of reporting.