U.S. 'No Photo' Policy and the Caskets of U.S. Soldiers

NPR | By Melissa Block

Published April 23, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

Americans woke up today to something that's been hidden from view during the war in Iraq -- flag-draped caskets of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. A policy dating back to the first Bush administration bans media coverage of caskets arriving at military bases. The photographs were released to First Amendment activist Russ Kick, who had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get the images. NPR's Melissa Block examines the "no photo" policy, and what it means for a country at war to witness the return of their dead.

Melissa Block

Melissa Block is a special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs.

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