Tisk, Tisk, Mr. President

August 8, was the deadliest day in the ten year long Iraq-Afghan conflict. America lost 31 of its bravest soldiers in Afghanistan. A Chinook helicopter ladened with a Navy Seal team rushed to a mountain to help an Army Ranger unit under fire from insurgents. The chopper never made its destination. It was shot down by what is believed to be a rocket propelled grenade(RPG). All on board parishes either by the attack or by the ensuing crash.

When even one of our brave soldiers looses his life or limb in his countries service it is horrid, but to loose 31 at once is hard to handle. Whether you believe the U.S. is acting in our country's best interests are not, you have to concede that the loss of life of a soldier doing his job is certainly mournful.

The process of delivering the remains of soldiers killed in action is called the “dignified transfer ceremony”. Before the solemn transfer is made to the family a vote is taken by all the families involved. The question that is asked is if they have issues with media coverage. The military is right in it asking if this all so somber event is to be covered by media outlets. In this instant the over whelming vote was to not have media present. That covers all attendees as well. No photography, print, or online presents of any kind was to be permitted.

On this doleful day at Dover Air Force Base, the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Under Secretary of Defense Michael Vickers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove,, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy, military honor guard units and staff were all in attendance. President Obama made an impromptu appearance as well.

Most of these high ranking officials travel with their personal photographers but were told, and adhered to, the family wishes that no media or photography was to be allowed. All but President Obama that is. He knew ahead of time of the families wishes and disregarded them for political reasons. He allowed his personal photographer access to the entire ceremony. Immediately after the ceremony the photos were circulated to the news media outlets. Later when questioned about the photographer's presence a spokesperson for his administration said that the photographer did not take any phtos of the caskets or families so they in fact had adhered to the privacy of the families. Mr. President....NO MEANS NO!!.

Fortunately most outlets passed on the photos, not due to the families wishes not being followed, but rather the fact that they were not allowed in to take there own photos.

The shear audacity of the President completely disregarding the wishes of KIA soldiers' families is unfathomable. And to ignore those wishes for obvious political gain is revolting. The Commander in Chief, the highest ranking military official in the U.S. should at any cost observe the wishes of fallen soldiers no matter what they are. I don't care if the family wanted jelly donuts at the ceremony, then get the damn donuts!!

This just another example of the lack of leadership and the “fish out of water” syndrome that Mr. Obama features. He, as well as his administration, think they are above protocol and humanity for that matter.

So Mr. Obama, the click, click, click you were hearing wasn't your personal photographer's camera going off, it was just more nails being hammered into your political coffin.