Iconic War Photography From The Crimean War To The Situation Room (PHOTOS)

This month has already begotten two iconic photographs: one released, one not. The first refers to an image of the President and his staff in the Situation Room of the White House during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden; the second, to documentation of bin Laden's body after his death. The photos, which have made headlines independent of the military operation that spawned them, are only the latest in the long tradition of war photography that has spawned some of humanity's most memorable images. In the slideshow below, we present some of these images, chosen for tension or beauty rather than carnage, that have captured the home front's imagination since the mid-19th century.

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This Official White House photo of President Obama's situation room was taken by Pete Souza during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011. The photo has quickly become iconic in its own right, in contrast to the images of bin Laden after his death, which have not been released.

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This Official White House photo of President Obama's situation room was taken by Pete Souza during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011. The photo has quickly become iconic in its own right, in contrast to the images of bin Laden after his death, which have not been released.

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Forgettable Iconic

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Comments

[Marcia cee]

11:47 AM on 05/18/2011

The Xmas Truce of 1914 has always been a paradox to me, exactly like this photo, time stood still.

[annie82461]

11:26 AM on 05/18/2011

Those pictures are just amazing, especially the one from World War 1, where my
grandfather served in France and was pronounced dead, while hiding in a foxhole.
Mr. John Anton Ellison, a great man!!

[mc81360]

11:57 AM on 05/18/2011

My great uncle also died in a foxhole in France .They said the shell had his name on it .His name was Charles Mckinney .Small world .

[ingeborg shewbridge]

11:21 AM on 05/18/2011

Millions died in Dresden women and children!
There is nothing to be proud of for bombing that great City
The great German people rebuild it the way the city was before!

[tbeach1501]

12:12 PM on 05/18/2011

Well, 25 thousand is almost millions huh???

[eversolehdg]

11:13 AM on 05/18/2011

Everyone needs to relax a little bit. It is entitled iconic war photographs not, the most iconic photographs ever. These pictures do a good job at giving us glimpses into situations we may not typically see and need to be appreciated for their value.

[UTARebel]

05:18 PM on 05/18/2011

Like I said - it looks like they are watching Sunday afternoon football - BO all hunched over. I guess that could be considered iconic - in sports maybe.

[Fbigdeal]

10:16 PM on 05/21/2011

...and to say it is now a historical photograph then----why is that Millitary guy playing PackMan game on the puter? He is seems uninterested what is going down.

Beat a level in PackMan- u earn a medal!!

[Howzdat]

11:00 AM on 05/18/2011

Obama said, "Justice was done. And uh, I think that ANYONE who would question that the perpertrator of MASS MURDER on American soil, uh didn't deserve what he got, NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR HEAD EXAMINDED"

Why is it no one ever feels sorry for native indians and negroes after slavery and the conquest of america....they were the victims of mass murder on american soil....what about JUSTICE for them????
Seems like the only valid tragedies are those that happen to white people.
1.Nazi Germany - Holocaust (6million Jews VS over 77million native indians?)
2.Pearl harbor and 911 - (what about the Tuskegee Experiment 400 Negroes willfully infected with syphillis-

It's depressing to know that your own abuse and rape and murder NEVER EVER MATTERS

look at this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0fDPhh6F9o

[lisa2080]

11:13 AM on 05/18/2011

Maybe I am reading into your post wrong.......So you don't think any black people died on 9/11???? I am black and extremely offended by your statement. People need to realize that racisim is finally turning around and yes even whites face it now, as do chinese, as do arabs. We are white, or black, or yellow, or blue, we are American. If you don't want to be an "AMERICAN" and your ashamed of its past either move on or move out!

[Howzdat]

12:26 AM on 05/19/2011

see again.....why didnt you move on about bin laden???

I am saying is people have told us all our lives forget about slavery and native indians and stuff like that...yet still when it comes to white atrocities it is given ample time and resources and RECOGNITION. its a sore wound to open when u ask if black people died on 911...maybe so...but what is special about them...those few that is not special about well over 100million negroes and indians who were slaughtered in the laying of the foundation of america, that made it even possible to have a WTC....they are asked to be forgotten...but the blacks in 911 get recognition for one reason....they died alongside PRECIOUS WHITE BLOOD of americans....thus...they benefit from the JUSTICE metted out to white america.....

YOU ARE LOST IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE

[ICNURWINDOS]

11:22 AM on 05/18/2011

And just where did you get your census count about 77 million (migrated) people here from Asia who became indians in this country? Where do you think the indians originally came from, "SPACE" ? I doubt it very much if there were 77 million indians who were slain during all of the movement of the settlers, and let us not forget that many of those settlers were also "BLACK" and "SPANISH" also and they alsom did their share of killing the indians also and then last but not least , let's not forget about how many settlers were killed innocently by the indians and scalped or burned at the stake.

[Jamee Neil]

11:35 AM on 05/18/2011

What where they scalped and burnt for might i ask? For envading someone elses home, in the present thats called breaking and entering. You cant move into a house that already has residents and say this is my house. If i was to try to forcefully move you from ur home wouldnt you be a bit objective to the idea Windos?

[Jamee Neil]

11:38 AM on 05/18/2011

And just for you mr facts on the census, most native americans where from the americas not asia, genius, hence the term Native.

[mc81360]

10:50 AM on 05/18/2011

If Hillary didn't put her hand over her mouth the photo would have been a 1 day wonder and then forgotten .

[UTARebel]

11:52 AM on 05/18/2011

I do not feel that picture should have been displayed with the iconic pictures shown, Indeed, with BO crouched as if he were watching a football game, the whole pic appears staged.

I would rather have seen pictures of the Navy Seals departing on their mission - that would have fit in with the other pictures shown.

[farberj]

12:23 PM on 05/18/2011

she looks there like she is talking sniper fire,i would write her in for silver star.

[UTARebel]

05:09 PM on 05/18/2011

nah, don't do that - just vote for her in the primaries and get BO out.

[Common Sense 69]

10:49 AM on 05/18/2011

The word "iconic" should be reserved for the Navy SEALS who carried out the mission -- not for some guy who popped in after 9 holes of golf to watch his TV set. This was a photo-op for trying to get re-elected. Gingrich or Romney 2012.

[farberj]

12:26 PM on 05/18/2011

common,anybody but osama

[heldt666]

10:48 AM on 05/18/2011

Photos are sterile, flat images of humanity.
If you could somehow put the smell of war in the pictures, wars would end.
I spent 3 and a half years in Korea, at times carrying horribly mangled bodies of Marines off the field.
The smell of death is very sobering. After all these years I still see the faces of of young men begging for help.

[psyops3000]

11:14 AM on 05/18/2011

M hat is off to you my friend, and fellow veteran.

[UTARebel]

11:54 AM on 05/18/2011

ditto

[mc81360]

10:27 AM on 05/18/2011

Nobel peace prize for best hit man .

[gregkingms]

10:22 AM on 05/18/2011

We should know by now that anything this administration does will be called iconic or historical. We could have gotten him long ago if the Pakistani government had not been paid by us to protect bin laden untill it was politically expediante to do so. That is also why bin laden could not be taken alive,he knew too much. This man had to be killed by this administration to cover the fact that the Pakistani government was hiding him for this moment. perfect timing for obama. Most of America may be blind as a bat but we see things clearly on the creek.

[renoff]

10:22 AM on 05/18/2011

A photo op for Obama Iconic???

[farberj]

12:30 PM on 05/18/2011

he looks better shooting golf

[ufopp]

02:45 PM on 05/28/2011

Or hoisting mission accomplished banners wearing jock straps on an aircraft carrier.

[fam3d2008]

10:21 AM on 05/18/2011

i heard an interesting analogy this morning. When you go to McDonalds-do you thank Ronald McDonald for your hamburger or do you thank the person who cooked it? When you consider Bin-Ladens death- do you thank Obama or the navy Seal who killed him? Stop giving praise to the clowns in charge!!

[mc81360]

10:24 AM on 05/18/2011

I don't care if they give all the credit to Charles Manson I'm just glad he's dead .It's time to bring our troops home .

[mc81360]

10:42 AM on 05/18/2011

I don't go to Mcdonalds now what ?

[farberj]

12:33 PM on 05/18/2011

michelle thanks you

[mc81360]

10:17 AM on 05/18/2011

Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.Winston Churchill .

[farberj]

01:34 PM on 05/18/2011

how can somebody not respect this man?

[june1964]

10:09 AM on 05/18/2011

This is such liberal crap...iconic? The obliteration of Dresden..... yes.... a staged photo of Obama watching an assasination? No. I can't believe AOL paid 300 million for this rag.

[rccthatsme]

10:17 AM on 05/18/2011

I agree. I ended my 15 year PAID affiliation with AOL over the purchase.

[UTARebel]

12:12 PM on 05/18/2011

As did I, but it is nice to see such new voices rebuffing the huffies,

[farberj]

01:36 PM on 05/18/2011

stay around we are the few

[mc81360]

10:08 AM on 05/18/2011

The only photo I want to see is of the last person coming home from the wars .Bin Ladin is dead so send our troops home .

[rccthatsme]

10:18 AM on 05/18/2011

100% agree.