Even if this is true, why is a dumbass going into a warzone and posing for pictures in a legitimate target? The arrogance of Americans knows no bounds.
Morale.
Sending high ranking officials to the front line to show that they are willing to fight with their soldiers, and that their lives are also on the line has been a thing in pretty much all of history. In modern (WWI and after) warfare, major wars are usually too intensive for too long for them to stay there before they return to the safety of their back lines. Look at current public perceptions of WWI, where generals are depicted as sitting back in their houses while soldiers are decimated on the front.
Morale.
Sending high ranking officials to the front line to show that they are willing to fight with their soldiers, and that their lives are also on the line has been a thing in pretty much all of history. In modern (WWI and after) warfare, major wars are usually too intensive for too long for them to stay there before they return to the safety of their back lines. Look at current public perceptions of WWI, where generals are depicted as sitting back in their houses while soldiers are decimated on the front.