Der Spiegel: Should it have published the U.S. soldiers' photos?

The U.S. Army apologized Tuesday after graphic photos showing U.S. troops posing over dead Afghan civilians were published by German news organization Der Spiegel, the Associated Press reported.

One of the three photos, which the army was keeping under wraps for a war crimes probe, shows a soldier smiling as he posed with a bloodied and partially clothed body.

The photos were among several seized by Army investigators looking into the deaths of three unarmed Afghans last year. Officials involved in the courts-martial had issued a strict protective order hoping to limit access to the photographs due to their sensitive nature. Der Spiegel declined to tell AP how it had obtained the photographs.

"Today Der Spiegel published photographs depicting actions repugnant to us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United States Army," the army said in a statement released by Col. Thomas Collins. "We apologize for the distress these photos cause."

Der Spiegel has other photos from the case -- some of which are more graphic -- though spokesman Hans-Ulrich Stoldt said he doesn't know how many. The magazine printed a few in order to illustrate the story, Stoldt said.

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Do you think Der Spiegel was right to publish the images? Do you think the army was right to apologize? Please let us know in the comments field below.



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