Posted on 05/28/2005 7:54:13 PM PDT by quidnunc
Some questions, answers and general observations about the recent flap involving Newsweek magazine and the infamous, flushing-the-Koran allegation:
1) Was Newsweek wrong to print the story? Yes. Apart from the ideological ramifications of the incident (more on those later), publishing the story was simply bad journalism. The magazine claimed it had sources for the allegation. Sources (plural) turned out to be “source”(singular), which turned out to be someone who thought he heard proof of the allegation. That’s hardly a strong base upon which to build a case for running such a potentially explosive accusation. Writers generally learn about this in Journalism 101.
2) If the story had solid proof behind it, should Newsweek have run it? Yes, but in proper context. If the magazine had irrefutable proof of American interrogators flushing a Koran down a toilet, it would have had every right to print it … but it also would have had the responsibility to frame the technique within the larger picture of the military’s constant search for vital information. In other words, why was it done. We’re not trying to find out where terrorists may have hid the bathroom key; we’re looking for info that can save American lives. That type of information is not likely to come forth from detainees who are pampered. It’s the “ticking time bomb” question: if a detainee knows where and when a time bomb will go off, should all means of information extraction be used on him? Absolutely.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at barnstablepatriot.com ...
'Sources (plural) turned out to be “source”(singular), which turned out to be someone who thought he heard proof of the allegation. That’s hardly a strong base upon which to build a case for running such a potentially explosive accusation. Writers generally learn about this in Journalism 101.'
...Either Mike was a) asleep during this particular lesson, or b) decided to cut class.
-Regards, T.
There is more evidence that Bill Clinton raped three women than the koran was somehow messed with!
A short article in the Wall Street Journal indicated that Newsweek hasn't extended its "mea culpa" coverage to its Arabic language edition.
Put a man's testicles in a vise and there's nothing he won't tell you... eventually.
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