The facts behind the flag raising do not support the allegation of fraud. The flag was raised a second time on Mount Suribachi because the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, demanded the first one be brought to him as a souvenir.
Others say the photo was posed. This too is false according to witnesses. The photo was in fact a snapshot, a one-in-a-million chance at photographic immortality, and Joe Rosenthal got lucky. It's as simple as that.
What do you think? Pure luck or stroke of PR genius?