Newsweek apologizes for getting Koran-Guantanamo Bay story wrong. (The Editor's Desk)

Newsweek ^ | 05/15/05 | The Editor's Desk

[Pikamax]

May 23 issue - Did a report in NEWSWEEK set off a wave of deadly anti-American riots in Afghanistan? That's what numerous news accounts suggested last week as angry Afghans took to the streets to protest reports, linked to us, that U.S. interrogators had desecrated the Qur'an while interrogating Muslim terror suspects. We were as alarmed as anyone to hear of the violence, which left at least 15 Afghans dead and scores injured. But I think it's important for the public to know exactly what we reported, why, and how subsequent events unfolded.

[Valin]

Got it bookmarked. I'd forgotten about the "rape" story.

[baystaterebel]

""Fifteen dead, scores injured, relief buildings burned down.

Years of coalition building with the Muslim world against terrorist fanatics set back.

That's the toll to date for a brief story about a U.S. prison guard throwing a Quran down the toilet – a story Newsweek now admits it got wrong.""

From the article Smartass linked.

These words couldn't be more true or more frightening. Newsweek is responsible for more then 15 deaths and riots that ensued. The are responsible, nay, GUILTY of working against American Foreign Policy and the possibility of risking American lives. This is not an issue of a 1st Amendment Right. The 1st Amendment says nothing about being allowed to lie without fear of repercussions.

There is Hell to pay. Newsweek is the debtor.

[StarCMC]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[Former Military Chick]

If you anything sane to add, please share it with me, as I am beyond anger, if I were not a chick, I would spit something right into the ... well you get the idea.

[Calpernia]

I believe in First Amendment Rights too. But that is not a right to lie. Their lies caused bloodshed and they need to be held accountable for the deaths.

[Smartass]

You know, there's a definitive distinction between a declaration of war and an undeclared war. "Hanoi Jane" danced around this issue, and the liberals can yelp and squawk all they want. Bear in mind, since WWII, none of our conflicts have been declared by congress. Hence, walking and talking treason by Democrats is OK. It has been estimated that 9-11 was just as bad, if not worse than Pearl Harbor, yet no declaration of war! Treasonous talk by the Democrats and liberal MSM has become rampant and out of control.

[Smartass]

You're both right. There's no accountability or penalty to pay for false reporting at a time of war and the cause and affects thereof. Read my last post to Valin. If congress would officially declare war against world-wide terrorists, the USDOJ would have something to grab hold of. Right now it's to loose, with everyone getting a pass for treasonous acts.

[Former Military Chick]

Let me translate:

(*&^*T*&T (*Y(*T*V (*3@!2 OOps sorry can't cause my comment would be reported.... but I bet you can read my mind.

[Smartass]

Sorry I missed your comments Mo1

"You know, there's a definitive distinction between a declaration of war and an undeclared war. "Hanoi Jane" danced around this issue, and the liberals can yelp and squawk all they want. Bear in mind, since WWII, none of our conflicts have been declared by congress. Hence, walking and talking treason by Democrats is OK. It has been estimated that 9-11 was just as bad, if not worse than Pearl Harbor, yet no declaration of war! Treasonous talk by the Democrats and liberal MSM has become rampant and out of control."

"You're both right. There's no accountability or penalty to pay for false reporting at a time of war and the cause and affects thereof. Read my last post to Valin. If congress would officially declare war against world-wide terrorists, the USDOJ would have something to grab hold of. Right now it's to loose, with everyone getting a pass for treasonous acts."

[Cboldt]

... where is the good ol' conservative attitude of making rioters responsible for the riot and murderers responsible for the murder?

Or the guy who walks up to the bully and says "Your mother wears army boots." Obviously, the guy throwing the taunt is to blame for what follows.

To be sure, 'tis not wise to taunt a bully. And equally sure, Newsweek is despicable, biased, and out to bring a black eye on Western civ and the current administration. I don't have any sympathy for an idiot who taunts a bully, but I blame the bully for the beating.

The analysis is much different in this case too, because the liar is sending the bully to beat up some innocent dupe.

[swilhelm73]

So if someone doesn't want to comment or defend a crazy allegation it must be true?

Well, as I recall, Clinton's response to the rape allegation raised against him was a big no comment. Though his lawyer did deny that Jimmy Carter raped anyone.

[oyez]

They wanted the story to be true.

[Cboldt]

Whoever wrote the Newsweek report about Korans being flushed down the toilet belongs in an orange jumpsuit while awaiting trial for high treason.

I think the facts are the pages of the Koran were put down a toilet in an effort to cause it to back up and create a "flood."

The person who tore the pages out and deposited them in the toilet was a prisoner, not a guard. The original story didn't attribute the action to anybody. Newsweek jumped to the conclusion and published that it was a guard action.

[Valin]

I would hope that the DOJ is looking into this.

[chuckwalla]

The Koran offender was a muslim.
So let's see if they call for killing him.
Not.
He will be a hero for using the Koran to discredit the great satan.

[Cboldt]

This is a case of yelling fire in a crowded theater that we are talking about here. Or perhaps a better example, if Newsweek maliciously and falsely called Joe Innocent a child molester, and someone killed Joe based on this, wouldn't Newsweek still also be to blame?

That second one is a good hypothetical. It reminds me of the Jenny Jones trial.

http://talkshows.about.com/cs/jennyjones/a/secondverdict.htm

What did Jones (personally, or the show) get in that one?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Did a (completely irresponsible) report in NEWSWEEK set off a wave of deadly anti-American riots in Afghanistan around the world?

Answer = YES.

Now, how are they going to answer for their crime?

[Cboldt]

As others have pointed out the damage has been done, now how do we (or more specifically newsweek) fix it.

I think a retraction and correction is in order, and certainly an apology to the American operations who are guarding the prisoners.

As for the rioters, they have some apologizing to do too. Some criminal prosecutions and convictions are in order there as well.

[Smartass]

What's troubling, is that there are a lot of should have, hope, ought to be, but, nothing happens, but, the treason talk still continues. Yet, some small trivial incident will trigger a massive investigation.

[chuckwalla]

They did, they apologized.
It's time to move on now and get on with the business of the country and stop the politics of personal destruction.
signed, bill clinton