The media have covered the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with an intensity and intimacy not seen since Vietnam.

But this newfound attention has left service members with decidedly mixed views of the media and their role.

Less than half — 47 percent — of respondents to the Military Times Poll said that in wartime, the media should publish or broadcast news stories that suggest the war is not going well.

And when asked who should determine whether such stories are published or broadcast, nearly half said that decision should be left to government or military leaders, not the media itself. Only 35 percent said the media should decide.

Official government policy forbids taking photographs of flag-draped coffins as they arrive at places such as Dover Air Force Base, Del. But 64 percent of the Military Times sample thought such photographs should be allowed.

"People need to realize there are dead soldiers coming home,' said Army Sgt. Johanna Matlock, a lab technician at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "The general public doesn't totally understand the cost.'

But some troops have misgivings. "Who knows what the photos will be used for in the future?' said Army Sgt. Kirk H. Ericson of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Two-thirds of respondents believed it is acceptable to publish recognizable images of wounded troops if the families had been notified or if the wounded gave permission, which is what current rules allow.

But a slim majority — 51 percent — balked at ever publishing photos of recognizable dead troops, while 39 percent said such photos are OK after families have been notified.

While people in uniform have a mixed view of the media, they believe the media view of the military is generally favorable. Only one-quarter believe the media have a poor or very poor opinion of the armed forces.

-- Robert Hodierne

Commentary:
So our military leaders think our right to a free press shouldn't apply to war coverage. Good grief. Quick, someone take away their guns before they torture a POW.