The logic you are using is utterly specious. If someone yells "Fire!" in a crowded theatre and people are killed in the ensuing stampede, there IS absolutely a difference in the degree of culpability for the resulting casualties depending on whether or not there actually existed a fire. Someone who recklessly yells "FIRE!" when there wasn't one (as Newsweek did) can & would be held responsible for the deaths he caused. Isikoff (he's a pretty smart guy, I'm very surprised he's part of this) better get a good lawyer.
So if the story were true and Newsweek reported it (thereby resulting in the same number of deaths) this would be a non-issue with you. Which answers my question.