This is truly a dilemma. The Right thoughtlessly and callously exploits our young people convincing them that there is some greater good worth fighting and dying for. Once dead, we on the left favor thoughtlessly and callously exploiting our young people and the grief of their families for some greater good - a hope that when the public learns from these photos how awful war is and that people die in war, the public will come to their senses and rally enthusiastically to pressure Obama and our elected officials to end this insanity once and for all.

I certainly understand the reasoning but this argument concerns me for a couple of reasons. First, the practical consideration. Such photos are gruesome and depressing and unless we are going to institute some “Clockwork Orange forced viewing" scenario, most of the “public” will avoid looking at them and pretend they do not exist. Secondly, and most importantly, the moral consideration. To me exploitation is exploitation and the disregard/disrespect for the dignity of a human being – the dead soldier and his loved ones (the means) – is repugnant and unacceptable regardless of the ends to be achieved.