News outlets have been banned from taking photos of flag draped coffins (like the one above) returning from war since the Gulf War in 1991.

A professor even filed a law suit for the release of such pictures back in 2005. The journalism professor at the University of Delaware, Ralph Begleiter said "It's the biggest single aspect of the cost of war. For that aspect to be invisible, undebated, undiscussed by American people is just wrong... I felt these images were the single most important way that the American people could see the cost of war."

Good point. It's harder to be in favor of sending more and more troops when you can actually SEE how many dead are being brought home. 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was lifting the ban, as long as privacy of the individual families is still respected by photographers. He said he favors honoring fallen troops as much as possible. Can't argue with that.