[Mach9]

Maybe someone here can enlighten me. It appears obvious that whether or not Newsweek's folks got the story RIGHT (viz., one or more interrogator "dissing" the Koran), Newsweek--once allied or American deaths were linked to that line in the story--would have little choice about whether or not to retract. No retraction, more deaths (not that a simple retraction is going to halt the violence on the same issue, but NW could conveniently wash its hands after the retraction). And tho it's clear that some "journalists" don't mind bloody hands, allowing the violence to continue or spread based on their "report" would, one would think, expose them to enormous pressure from readers and other publishers.

For argument's sake, tho, suppose the allegation was false. Why did DOD fail to notice the line and challenge Newsweek IMMEDIATELY through other channels instead of waiting for the deaths to mount?

Is it possible that no one (DOD, various media, including NW) here believed that the mere mention of "desecration" of a book could cause such havoc? And having learned that it DID, why were "we" unanimous in blaming NW rather than the rioters?

[JasonC]

Whats this "rather than" crap? We blame them both, of course. The rioters for killing people. The commies for deliberately lying to urge them on, because they are upset that we might be winning. Remove your head from its present location. If Newsweek had carefully vetted facts they might plead "journalism". They don't. They were engaged in agitprop pure and simple, publishing lies because they liked their probable effect, no other reason. We see their souls in an instant in this, anyone with a shred of patriotism who isn't blind. Nobody runs off and libels US soldiers on grounds this flimsy, unless they hate them and want them to lose. The only thing unusual in this, is that their usual shield of high minded pretense can be seen for the sham it always is. They do this every day. They've been screaming the like for years now. And here we just see the bare motive, devoid of any justification by mere fact.