Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Gruesome photos of US troops in Afghanistan published

Details

  • Description

    Was L.A. Times wrong to release images?

  • Duration 4:24
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest News

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

The Pentagon condemning the publication of graphic photographs apparently showing US troops.

Posing with the remains of homicide bombers in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon asked the LA times not to publish these pictures.

Fearing that they would incite more violence in the region and put US troops in even more danger newspaper says it has a responsibility.

To report on the war.

And to publish the photos Matthew continuity is editor in chief of the Washington -- beacon.

Fox News contributor Ellen Ratner is the bureau chief of the talk radio and news service it's nice to talk to both the view Ellen.

Did the LA times have to publish these pictures up.

Course they didn't and they made an editorial judgment I'm not so sure that I would have made the same editorial judgment but of course I'm I'm a little bit of was -- -- not of anybody but I just I don't like to cause trouble.

But I will say this that the LA times and did this after talking to the Pentagon many times and also.

The one fact that really got me is that this particular group of soldiers.

This company was sent back to Afghanistan this happened two years ago so they were not actually.

That they they publish these because they're afraid of unit cohesion issues and the safety of these people that was an editorial decision they may.

Matthew with a Washington free beacon publish these pictures.

No not at all because it puts soldiers at risk and the Obama administration was correct when -- warned.

At the press -- Los Angeles Times that these might endanger troop cohesion or troops' lives we've seen this pattern all of these stories have been.

You know alleged malpractice on the part of American soldiers causing riots in Afghanistan.

This is just feeding into that river -- -- -- a horrible decision on the part of the LA times.

L and these are terrorists is we're not insurgents.

These were not freedom fighters these work killers.

Who were willing to kill themselves and who did it intent to kill Americans on the ground is that point.

Being lost here.

No I don't think that point is being lost and all -- issue is is do we respect people.

Even if you kill them and kill them for cause is that is there something respectful that we have to have.

As Americans I think what.

The person who release these photos to the LA times said apparently to the LA times.

Is they're worried because this group was being sent back that there was a real problem in terms of unit cohesion in terms of following the rule of law.

And that was there concern and that seemed to be the concern yesterday.

When they did a I'll I'll I'll blog live blog chat on the LA times.

Editorial -- Matthew in this story comes without any context at all in terms of painting -- picture that shows.

That what these soldiers did is in no way representative.

Of what our men and women in uniform on the ground in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world the way that they are acting limited context here what do you think.

Welfare of course -- right in the fact there's even if there were problems with unit cohesion or.

Problems with discipline in the unit that's the military's problem that's the Department of Defense this problem ultimately that's the commander in -- problem.

That's not the Los Angeles Times -- problem especially this incident happening more than two years ago.

The LA times here was out for -- -- arisen that was out here for sensation -- -- out here for page views it was just a bad decision all.

I do not think the LA times is out there for Boyer ism or pay Jews they obviously struggled with this decision -- I what is -- -- as you would perhaps.

And I would have made the right decision well I -- not -- the you know these kinds of things there's a lot of gray here and it's very easy to say.

All they did right they did rock.

This is a very gray area and I'm old enough to remember the one week's dead that was published that really did change how we prosecuted the Vietnam War.

And so there are times that this can be appropriate and I don't understand the full judgment of the LA times but you also have to respect that they really struggled.

Well now these pictures are out there at a very sensitive juncture here as we are trying to negotiate.

And and to our involvement in that part of the world and I can't help but think that these pictures being out there is gonna complicate those negotiations.

Just a little bit and maybe even more than that.

I'm not sending that unit back to the area and this is the same unit.

Were some of the people engaged in that what does that mean about the discipline and that unit.

We have to leave it there -- thank you very much has always Matthew content -- who was with a Washington free -- good to talk to both.

Thank you thank you feel --

Load More