Friday, May 27, 2005

Pentagon Confirms Koran Incidents

And here it is...Newsweek gets raked over the coals for starting riots and killings over its report of abuses at Guantanamo Bay. They're made to retract their story stating that the US Government had confirmed the abuses that were long ago reported elsewhere.

(One has to wonder about the level of sudden outrage over this in the middle east. the stories--and much worse--have been public knowledge for well over a year.)

The White House accuses them of playing fast and loose with the facts and doing a great deal to harm the reputation of this country with their 'untrue' story. in addition, they say this magazine may be responsible for new risks that our soldiers face in these hotspots around the globe.

It enrages me that this white house can blame loss of life and respect for the US on the magazine's story...yet, somehow, cannot detect its own role in all this! Moreover, lets get down to the fact that the White House hung Newsweek out to dry on this story when...IT WAS ACTUALLY TRUE!! this White House can't be bothered with things like 'responsibility' when there's someone else who can take the blame!

4 comments:

Jas N Smith said...

The story about the Koran being dumped in a toilet wasn't true though. That's the part that the gov't flipped out about. Also, most of the reporters and folks on the ground said that the surge of violence and such really had very little to do with the article.

Polly said...

yeah maybe so (and i think it WAS true. the problem was that Newsweek said the findings were in a gov't. report and that was redacted). However, it has been long reported that the Koran was pissed on and put into buckets of piss. saying it really didn't get 'flushed down the toilet' (is that even possible?) is hardly makingi it 'ok'. It's been reported for over a year that these things are/were happening. I find it odd that the muslim community in the middle east chose NOW to get upset over this. i find that VERY suspect.

Another thing is this. what is the harm? it IS disrespectful and that is the point. i don't know if i have a problem w/ them desecrating books in the name of intelligence...unless it makes such residual problems that it hurts more than it helps.

Anonymous said...

Aw, this is just like the whole Bush National Guard memo thing--discredit one tiny technicality about a story, and then you can write off the whole story; all people will remember when it comes up is "Didn't that turn out to be a lie? That librul media!" Doesn't matter if it's substantially true. This administration is masteful at manipulating the media. I fear for our futures.

Polly said...

what no one (on the kerry campaign) ever seemed to get is that the bush folks (read: Karl Rove) M.O. is to attack others on their strengths and divert any heat. it doesn't hurt that the conservative radio/newspaper/FoxNews-ites serve as an echo chamber for those views, demanding airtime.

Thas is a lot like Marvel comics in the early 90s. comic shops used to sell ALL the marvel books. so how does marvel deal with Image and the rise of the independents? they tried to produce as MANY comics as they could to push the other companies off the shelf. literally. take up all the room and you can barely hear from the other guys!