Digital photography

^ In my opinion, that's the wrong way of looking at it. No-one in that image is rubbing their hands together, or showing disrespect. I doubt any of those people are enjoying looking at this horrific thing. They are sacrificing a lot to bring you an important image that would never be seen otherwise.

Both images are interesting, but neither is morally repugnant on the part of the photographer.. unless of course we make assumptions.

I do have a slight problem with what is basically war-porn. It's all over youtube and it concerns me. This doesn't constitute that though, for me.

Hmm, that's a very fair point, but what do you thinking about the human input aspect of taking the image. After all, it's a human documenting the nature and behaviour of another. Automation would miss those idiosyncrasies no? When I shoot, I look for the detail you'd normally ignore, while automation would rely on chance that that action would
Occur by taking masses of images.

I think you just have to accept that not all art is a craft, and not all craft is art. I don't know where to go with this question without writing an essay or something so let's agree to like different kinds of photography most. ;)