Editor's note: Ralph J. Begleiter teaches communication, journalism and political science at the University of Delaware. During two decades as CNN's "world affairs correspondent," Begleiter was the network's most widely traveled reporter.



Ralph J. Begleiter says the Pentagon's new policy on media access to coffins of war dead is a milestone.



NEWARK, Delaware (CNN) -- The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people.



The Pentagon's decision announced Thursday allowing media coverage of coffins of war victims returning to Dover Air Force Base -- if families agree -- restores to its rightful, honorable place the immense value of the sacrifice American troops make on behalf of their nation. It allows the American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time.



Although no one should have a veto over the nation's ability to pay respects to its fallen troops, I believe most families will decide that their sons and daughters deserve to be recognized publicly for their sacrifice.



These men and women enlisted in the military for their nation. They fought for their nation. They died for their nation. Their return should be respectfully and publicly acknowledged by their nation.



The ban on images of returning casualties started accidentally, and without any reference to the "privacy" of the families of those who gave their lives in service to the nation.



The accident of media history occurred in December 1989 when poor White House scheduling placed President George H.W. Bush before live television cameras just as the first American casualties were arriving at Dover Air Force Base from the U.S. invasion of Panama.



CNN and two other major TV networks fired up their split-screen technology, showing on one side the president joking with White House reporters just before the Christmas holiday -- and on the other the sober images of flag-draped military caskets being carried ceremoniously by honor guards across the tarmac at Dover.



After the holidays, the president appealed publicly to reporters to "help me" overcome a public impression that he had been insensitive on TV about the returning casualties.



News media had been covering the return of war casualties since World War II. Some military personnel believe the showing of those images -- and others from the jungles of Vietnam -- contributed to a gradual growth of anti-war sentiment during the 1960s.



Just days before the Gulf War began in January 1991, the new media policy was formalized in a cable sent by the Defense Department to its posts: There would be no media coverage of returning casualties at Dover or other stops along the way home.



The directive made no mention of anyone's privacy but portrayed the ban on coverage of returning casualties as an effort to ease pressure on stressed families, who might feel obliged to travel to Dover to witness the return of their loved one with news media watching.



Over the next decade, several exceptions were made to the ban on media coverage at Dover, including for the return of Navy personnel killed in the bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen's coast, just weeks before the election that brought the second President Bush into office.



Ironically, throughout the ban on media coverage of returning casualties, the Pentagon continued documenting this important part of any war by assigning military and government contract photographers to take pictures of the flag-draped caskets.



Those images, among the most poignant, respectful and dignified tributes to troops who died in service of their nation, were carefully maintained by the Defense Department. They were used for training of honor guards and for commemorating the significance of war casualties.



Although taken by the government, those images were withheld from public view.



From the aftermath of September 11, 2001, through the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the Pentagon kept taking those pictures even as it expanded its ban on media coverage of returning casualties -- now arguing that such war images would somehow invade the privacy of families of the deceased troops.



It was those images that a series of Freedom of Information Act requests pried loose in 2005 after months of legal skirmishing.



(Those
Editor 's note : Ralph J. Begleiter teaches communication , journalism and political science at the University of Delaware . During two decades as CNN 's " world affairs correspondent , " Begleiter was the network 's most widely traveled reporter . Ralph J. Begleiter says the Pentagon 's new policy on media access to coffins of war dead is a milestone . NEWARK , Delaware ( CNN ) -- The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people . The Pentagon 's decision announced Thursday allowing media coverage of coffins of war victims returning to Dover Air Force Base -- if families agree -- restores to its rightful , honorable place the immense value of the sacrifice American troops make on behalf of their nation . It allows the American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time . Although no one should have a veto over the nation 's ability to pay respects to its fallen troops , I believe most families will decide that their sons and daughters deserve to be recognized publicly for their sacrifice . These men and women enlisted in the military for their nation . They fought for their nation . They died for their nation . Their return should be respectfully and publicly acknowledged by their nation . The ban on images of returning casualties started accidentally , and without any reference to the " privacy " of the families of those who gave their lives in service to the nation . The accident of media history occurred in December 1989 when poor White House scheduling placed President George H.W. Bush before live television cameras just as the first American casualties were arriving at Dover Air Force Base from the U.S. invasion of Panama . CNN and two other major TV networks fired up their split - screen technology , showing on one side the president joking with White House reporters just before the Christmas holiday -- and on the other the sober images of flag - draped military caskets being carried ceremoniously by honor guards across the tarmac at Dover . After the holidays , the president appealed publicly to reporters to " help me " overcome a public impression that he had been insensitive on TV about the returning casualties . News media had been covering the return of war casualties since World War II . Some military personnel believe the showing of those images -- and others from the jungles of Vietnam -- contributed to a gradual growth of anti - war sentiment during the 1960s . Just days before the Gulf War began in January 1991 , the new media policy was formalized in a cable sent by the Defense Department to its posts : There would be no media coverage of returning casualties at Dover or other stops along the way home . The directive made no mention of anyone 's privacy but portrayed the ban on coverage of returning casualties as an effort to ease pressure on stressed families , who might feel obliged to travel to Dover to witness the return of their loved one with news media watching . Over the next decade , several exceptions were made to the ban on media coverage at Dover , including for the return of Navy personnel killed in the bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen 's coast , just weeks before the election that brought the second President Bush into office . Ironically , throughout the ban on media coverage of returning casualties , the Pentagon continued documenting this important part of any war by assigning military and government contract photographers to take pictures of the flag - draped caskets . Those images , among the most poignant , respectful and dignified tributes to troops who died in service of their nation , were carefully maintained by the Defense Department . They were used for training of honor guards and for commemorating the significance of war casualties . Although taken by the government , those images were withheld from public view . From the aftermath of September 11 , 2001 , through the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 , the Pentagon kept taking those pictures even as it expanded its ban on media coverage of returning casualties -- now arguing that such war images would somehow invade the privacy of families of the deceased troops . It was those images that a series of Freedom of Information Act requests pried loose in 2005 after months of legal skirmishing . ( Those
What was the new policy allows?
What was the new policy allows ?
American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time.
American people to honor the dignified and respectful return of war casualties to home soil for the last time.