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Today: Did Bush Admin Force Newsweek to Retract True Story?; Today Propagates More Ugly Rumors
The Today Show | governsleast governsbest

Posted on 05/17/2005 4:34:22 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

With its Alice-in-Wonderland treatment of the Koran flushing story, the Today Show demonstrated this morning that it is capable of making a Bush-bashing silk purse out of a false MSM sow's ear of a story.

Given the universal attention that the false story and Newsweek's retraction have garnered, there was no way that Today, much as it might have liked to, could have ignored the story.

Forced to deal with it, they managed to put its own ugly spin on the matter. Again and again, Today floated the notion that Newsweek retracted the story due to pressure from the Bush administration, and went so far as to suggest the story might be true.

The focus was at least as much on possibly sinister motives at the "White House," as it was on any transgression by Newsweek.

Thus the story was introduced with this question: "Will Newsweek's retraction end the flurry of White House criticism?"

And again: "Did pressure from the White House impact Newsweek's decision to retract the story?"

Matt Lauer stuck to the marching orders in his interview of Dan Klaidman Newsweek DC Bureau Chief.

Lauer: "Did you get pressure from the White House?"

Klaidman flatly denied it: "The only pressure was our own sense of responsibility."

That wasn't good enough for Lauer. He was apparently more willing to believe the enemies of the US than he was the Bush administration or even Newsweek.

Lauer: "There is suspicion in the Muslim world. They say they've heard similar reports from released detainees. Why shouldn't we believe it and think that Newsweek retracted the story only because it was forced to do so by the White House to protect its image?" And just in case anyone missed the MSM message, Lauer sympathetically asked: "Is there piling on by the administration?"

Given that the propagation of a false story led to riots and deaths, you'd think the last thing Today would do would be to air other rumors. Yet incredibly, incredibly!, that's exactly what it devoted virtually the entirety of its next segment to.

NBC reporter Richard Engel reported from Baghdad, and his report consisted of retelling a variety of additional rumors:

1. "There are many rumors in Iraq and across Muslim world that this kind of thing happens regularly."

2. "There are rumors that US Marines while raiding a mosque abused a Koran and spray-painted it."

3. "Another one - during a search of woman, a search dog pulled a Koran out of the woman's handbag and Marines started laughing."

Engel claimed: "People believe this is not a war on terrorism but a war on Islam."

Lauer 'helpfully' filled in the blanks: "You're telling me people in that part of the world expect the worst from the US.?"

Engel somberly observed: "I'm not sure we're winning the battle for hearts and minds. There is still fallout from Abu Ghraib."

And just to pour the last measure of gasoline on the fire, Engel ended with this explosive allegation: "There are rumors women were raped at Abu Ghraib. One women claimed she was raped six times every night."

Just when you thought the MSM couldn't sink any lower . . .


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush43; korandesecration; newsweek
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To: handy
I would add GWB and Rebublicans to the list of people they want to harm.
Of course. They are at the top of the list, and have been at the top of the list for decades (Republicans) and 5 years (Bush).

But what's new and startling is who's been actively and consciously added to the list: US soldiers.

They haven't yet stated publicly that they hate all US soldiers (though O'Reilly has dragged a couple of profs onto his show who were willing to state that), but everything the US left does now is aimed at actively subverting US victory in the field, with the intentional goal of causing an increase in US casualties (which they view as the only way to cause a US defeat, which they actively and sincerely yearn for).

101 posted on 05/17/2005 6:26:09 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: melancholy
Our MSM are exploiting the Moslem crowds’ ignorance in a bid to keep the story alive under the guise of "an intellectual discussion to get to the truth", something they never have to "retract".
Exactly. Our MSM is doing exactly what the Arab press does, keep the heat off Islamic tyrants by pointing the finger at all those "bad guy western imperialists".

But remember, it's not just the MSM. There are Arabists, leftists and communist in the State Department and other branches of government. This story didn't start with Newsweek. It was fed to them by a traitor who, by the way, is getting oodles of perks and pay at tax payer expense.

102 posted on 05/17/2005 6:28:51 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: bonfire

thanks


103 posted on 05/17/2005 6:30:07 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman
But what's new and startling is who's been actively and consciously added to the list: US soldiers. They haven't yet stated publicly that they hate all US soldiers (though O'Reilly has dragged a couple of profs onto his show who were willing to state that), but everything the US left does now is aimed at actively subverting US victory in the field, with the intentional goal of causing an increase in US casualties (which they view as the only way to cause a US defeat, which they actively and sincerely yearn for).

Yes, you make a very good point. It is now acceptable and cool to place troops at more risk. I'm so mad about this, but I have no subscriptions left to cancel.

104 posted on 05/17/2005 6:39:20 AM PDT by handy (Forgive me this day, my daily typos...The Truth is not a Smear!)
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To: handy
I'm so mad about this, but I have no subscriptions left to cancel.
LOL! Same here.
105 posted on 05/17/2005 6:42:01 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: jjbrouwer

BTTT


106 posted on 05/17/2005 6:43:26 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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To: samtheman
The American Left is now the active enemy of the United States of America.

It is time to move against them.

107 posted on 05/17/2005 6:44:33 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I saw the carnage that is NBC this morning.

Maybe you should start posting the NBC phone number and e-mail addys.

Are they SO FREAKIN' STUPID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THEY JUST THREW FUEL ON THE FIRE THIS MORNING!

Sorry for the yelling. good job glgb.

subterfuge


108 posted on 05/17/2005 7:02:24 AM PDT by subterfuge (Hillary's Operative Cooked the Books! **just keep saying that wherever you go**)
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To: Lazamataz
The American Left is now the active enemy of the United States of America. It is time to move against them.
But not singly or in small groups. We've got to get organized.
109 posted on 05/17/2005 7:03:06 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: laredo44

Excellent rhetorical question.


110 posted on 05/17/2005 7:17:54 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: Old Grumpy

"Matt Lauer is lower than dirt. Well actually, he IS dirt."

Actually, I would put him and the shagged out Couric in the manure (uncomposted) category. Along with their pathetic show.


111 posted on 05/17/2005 7:18:09 AM PDT by SpinyNorman (Moral relativism is, by definition, the polar opposite of having values.)
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To: golfboy
When are these idiotic DU'er types going to run out of tinfoil?

LoL! ...They have a never ending supply.

112 posted on 05/17/2005 7:19:10 AM PDT by demlosers (Rumsfeld: "We don't have an exit strategy, we have a victory strategy.'')
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To: Lazamataz
"It is time to move against them."

Good plan. Or you could just sit in your chair all day posting crap.

113 posted on 05/17/2005 7:20:13 AM PDT by jjbrouwer (Chelsea - kings of England!)
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To: Arrowhead1952
I suppose now we can all say, with a bitter truth; "...Newsweek Lied, People Died..."

Funny you should mention that. Yesterday I went online and found a web site that lets you compose your own bumper stickers, and for $18.95 composed and ordered five that read . . .

Liberal Media Lied, People Died

114 posted on 05/17/2005 7:20:15 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: MaryFromMichigan

You're very welcome, MFM. Just bein' true to my tagline!


115 posted on 05/17/2005 7:20:53 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: jjbrouwer

Or I could be like you and be wretchedly miserable and snipe at absolutely everyone and everything.


116 posted on 05/17/2005 7:21:54 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

MSM pigs!


117 posted on 05/17/2005 7:25:11 AM PDT by mowkeka (The problem is they WANTED the story to be true.)
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To: Lazamataz

Your posts actually suggest you ARE wretchedly miserable. You try a little too hard and on the rare occasions you do say something funny, you repeat the joke all day - until the joke is on you.


118 posted on 05/17/2005 7:26:11 AM PDT by jjbrouwer (Chelsea - kings of England!)
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To: jjbrouwer

BTTT!


119 posted on 05/17/2005 7:26:30 AM PDT by jjbrouwer (Chelsea - kings of England!)
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To: jjbrouwer
Your posts actually suggest you ARE wretchedly miserable. You try a little too hard and on the rare occasions you do say something funny, you repeat the joke all day - until the joke is on you.

I submit this post as evidence A of my thesis.

I hope things improve for you someday.

As far as me, I've never been happier! Life is good. :o)

120 posted on 05/17/2005 7:31:46 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Not Elected Pope Since 4/19/2005.)
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