White House bashes Newsweek report on Koran

[allemand]

16 May 2005 14:00:56 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that a Newsweek report based on an anonymous source had damaged the U.S. image overseas by alleging that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. (...)

"It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think there's a certain journalistic standard that should be met and in this instance it was not." (...)

McClellan complained that the story was "based on a single anonymous source who could not personally substantiate the allegation that was made."

"The report has had serious consequences," he said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

More:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16446947.htm

Blame the messenger... :eyes:

[paineinthearse]

1. Attack! Attack! Attack!

I smell a huge rat.

[sam sarrha]

2. just take the Newsweek journalists pensions away.. that'll learn em

[maddezmom]

3. "The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

Guess Scotty has forgottne all the abuse and torture at Gitmo, Abu Ghriab etc.

[Career Prole]

16. Exactly...they left out the "further", didn't they? n/t

[bpilgrim]

4. the WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING and this ain't the FIRST TIME!

this is the STRAW-MAN to DISTRACT and FOCUS debate for us Americans.

psst... pass the word

peace

[Caution]

5. HOw about the White House apologizes for the bahavior described instead?

The right's war on the media continues.

[indy_azcat]

6. Mmmmmmmmmm Hypocrisy

Replace "Newsweek" with "the White House" and "story" with "soldiers" in this quote:
"It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story,"

:grr:

[warrens]

7. HAHAHAHAHA

Damaged U.S. image. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Like lying to the American people to attack a defenseless nation, massacring a hundred thousand civilians, torturing prisoners, stealing oil, and giving the finger to the world had nothing to do with it.

You KNOW they pressured Newsweek into backing away from the story by threatening to cut off all access to the government. You just know that.

[sam sarrha]

8. it matters not that only 40 of over 600 of the prisoners are terrorists

:banghead:

[shoelace414]

9. has Scotty denied

that we desecrated the Koran at Gitmo?

has anyone asked?

wouldn't that hurt our image more, actually desecrating it?

[Supersedeas]

28. Nope not a single denial there: so Scotty's on the attack w/out the facts

Koran descecrated + US Rep Damaged = Blame Newsweek

[insane_cratic_gal]

10. US has done that themselves

By using Tactics that go against muslim beliefs in interrogation rooms.

England's red menstrating fingers (colored on) stacked naked bodies.. ect but we are suppose to belief this shit didn't happen?

[bunny planet]

11. Ok, now two things are accomplished for the Bush crime family.

Another possible source of journalistic integrity is maligned and discredited, Bush doesn't have to apologize for anything.

Unfortunately it won't have squat of an effect on the growing anger in the Muslim world over the story. They still believe it.

[Hobarticus]

12. Not the allegations....just the story. Write Newsweek!

[email protected]

[bunny planet]

13. Oh and I suppose Abu Ghraib hadn't already damaged the US image

overseas!!!!!!

[Decay]

14. Bad Newsweek! Bad Newsweek!

Don't you love the theatrics of it all?

[chartresbleu]

15. let's see......

making a decision that costs lives and damages the reputation of the country on the basis of bad sources. my god the white house is right, that sort of behavior is reprehensible. now if only there were any mirrors in the white house.

[Career Prole]

25. They just had the one mirror in shrub's bedroom. He broke it after

this unfortunate incident...

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall...who's the smartest prez of all?"

"While the fundies think you're bright, it's true,
Barney the dog is much smarter than you!"


Welcome to DU and keep up the canny observations, chartresbleu! :hi:

[Solly Mack]

17. yeah sure..it was Newsweek that damaged our image....

you betcha....


anymore lies to tell Scott?

[chelsea0011]

18. 100,000 dead civilians and 1600 American troops over an invasion of lies

and they have the gall to talk about the dead from riots.

[smoogatz]

19. Smells like yet another Rovian set-up

He keeps suckering journalists and they keep falling for it. Never mind that the substance of the story is probably true--one questionable source and now ALL of Newsweek's reporting on the torture issue is "discredited." Lesson: you don't go live/to print unless everything you say is confirmed by multiple, credible sources. Sheesh. It's journalism 101.

[RobinA]

41. Yep...

They are in the process of successfully innoculating themselves against torture stories from now until forever - same as they did against draft dodger stories.

[EFerrari]

20. Stage Three Reaction to Nonstop WH Mendacity:

:rofl:

[huckleberry]

21. Has Isikoff responded to any of this yet?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

22. I'm smelling a set-up here...one of Rove's tricks??

It seems odd that this "adminstration/military source" suddenly dried up forcing Newsweek NOT TO ADMIT DIDN'T HAPPEN, but that the corroborating source could not confirm the Koran story. There's a difference, but unfortunately the media will feed upon themselves and the possibility of another Rovian attack on a skeptical media source is pulled off successfully.

Here's the modus operandi of the BFEE...discredit (hopefully from within) ANY SOURCE OF NEGATIVE PRESS about the administration.

JB

[grytpype]

23. NW should reveal its source !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

When an anonymous source burns you, you can reveal them!!!!

So who was the senior administration official who told NW about the toilet incidents in the first place?????????

[Roland99]

24. ** Newsweek report on Quran matches many earlier accounts **

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/newsweek_koran_report_516.htm

Contrary to White House assertions, the allegations of religious desecration at Guantanamo published by Newsweek May 6 are common among ex-prisoners and have been widely reported outside the United States, RAW STORY has learned.

Several former detainees at the Guantanamo and Bagram airbase prisons have reported instances of their handlers sitting or standing on the Quran, throwing or kicking it in toilets, and urinating on it.

If the Newsweek report erred, it was perhaps in saying that the U.S. was slated to acknowledge desecrating the Quran in internal investigations. But reports of desecration are manifold.

One such incident—during which the Koran allegedly was thrown in a pile and stepped on—prompted a hunger strike among Guantanamo detainees in Mar. 2002, which led to an apology. The New York Times interviewed former detainee Nasser Nijer Naser al-Mutairi May 1, who said the protest ended with a senior officer delivering an apology to the entire camp.

[Rose Siding]

30. I don't know how that will ever bust through

:(

Right after CBS explains how w really was awol, maybe?

[still_one]

26. LOL

so not its newsweek that hurt our credibility???

I am sorry folks, but this country deserves exactly what they are getting

In 7 to 10 years when the results of this criminal administration has bankrupted our country, destroyed social security, medicare, and have people wondering why they can't retire or afford to send their kids to college, I will ask them one question, who did you vote for in 2004?

[Tempest]

27. Human Rights Watch reported in Oct. 2004 the Koran was being desecrated

Detainees also complained about the interference with their ability to pray and the lack of respect given to their religion. For example, the British detainees state that they were never given prayer mats and initially were not provided Korans. They also complained that when the Korans were provided, the guards “would kick the Koran, throw it into the toilet and generally disrespect it.”

http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/usa/gitmo1004/3.htm#_ftnref27

[struggle4progress]

117. Thanks for posting this. eom

[mike_c]

29. "The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

Classic argument by indirection. The U.S. image was damaged by the desecration, not by the Newsweek article.

[NVMojo]

31. And I bash the idiots in the White House. Go to hell, you fools!!!

[Hobo]

32. As they used to say in the time of Watergate..

It's a non-denial denial.


Hobo

:beer:

[Mist]

33. My Monday morning dose of irony:

The words "journalistic standard" coming out of Scottie's mouth.

[rodeodance]

79. yes irony INDEED!!!

[underpants]

34. SET UP--very Ratheresque

I'm just saying.

[demo dutch]

35. This is convenient, so they don't have to talk about the "Memo"

Discredit the Press!!

[ausiedownunderground]

36. There is very little image left of the US to be damaged!!!

The Rest of the World knows its those "evil" Rethuglicans that lead the US to "Grab" anything it wants, where it wants, when it wants. The US should be allowed to do this! You have the biggest, mightiest Army, airforce,navy and lets not forget about those hard pressed Marines in Iraq, in the world! You bloody well deserve everything you want! Go get it America!

[Spazito]

37. This is bullshit but, then, what else is new

No one believes ANYTHING Simple Scottie has to vomit up, this is just a 'call to action' to their rabid base, as usual, to attack those who tell the truth.

[Truth__Seeker]

38. Divert and Deflect...standard operating procedure

Now the story is no longer about US policy, its how the "L" media is hurting the USA. And still don't get it.

[Eloriel]

39. McClellan talking about journalistic standards?

Boy, talk about irony (not to mention hypocrisy).

[dave29]

40. "people have lost their lives"

yes, tens of thousands of innocent people have - no thanks to the misinformation administration.

[rodeodance]

76. the WH obviously wants to chill the media coverage of the war and its

effects (as if the msm has not followed along enough!!)

[alarcojon]

42. Red meat for the base

That's all this is. They'll run with it. Too bad there aren't any fonts to suddenly become experts on.

For those of us who haven't been drinking the kool-aid: nothing to see here...move along...

[reality based]

43. Ben Franklin said

(paraphrasing) If we don't hang together we most assuredly will hang separately. Reporters are getting picked off one by one when they say something that Cheney's puppets don't like. They'd better start hanging together.

[IChing]

44. White House Says Report of Koran Insult Should Be Retracted

by KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: May 16, 2005
Newsweek apologized yesterday for printing a small item on May 9 about reported desecration of the Koran by American guards at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, an item linked to riots in Pakistan and Afghanistan that led to the deaths of at least 17 people.
But the magazine, while acknowledging possible errors in the article, stopped short of retracting it.

Today, the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said Newsweek should retract the article.
The report that a Koran had been flushed down a toilet set off the most virulent, widespread anti-American protests in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban government more than three years ago.

"We regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst," Mark Whitaker, Newsweek's editor, wrote in the issue of the magazine that goes on sale at newsstands today. In an accompanying article, the magazine wrote that its reporters had relied on an American government official, whom it has not identified, who had incomplete knowledge of the situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/international/16cnd-koran.html?ex=1273896000&en=e9f3a2bf347d2f3b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Decay]

45. Chink in the armor.

Russians, Chinese, and everyone else is watching this.

[Larkspur]

46. I have no doubt desecration of the Koran is one torture technique

used by our side against Muslim detainees. It may not be flushed down a toliet, but wouldn't be surprised if it is abused in other ways.

[IChing]

52. Documented through other time lines and witnesses

It's funny they want it retracted


From: readers comment from bellaciao.org
http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=6056#forum17198


"Yes, very bloody "excellent" article, almost as good as the one Newsweek recently published, regarding the "koran flushing" incident, that has now caused the deaths of 16 people across the ME, and that (like Comrade Dan Rather’s story about Bush’s guard service) has been totally discredited and the original source denies it! If Donald Rumsfeld doesn’t force Newsweek to withdraw its’ reporters from Iraq, Bush should get rid of him. And that bloody liberal, Bush-hating Jew bastard, Michael Isikoff, should be sent to Guantanamo Bay, and tried for treason. When is this going to stop, Goddamit all! Yes, the enemy within, God bless Michael Savage for calling it like it is."

[Tempest]

66. Raw Story has a good article on the numerous desecration instances

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/newsweek_koran_report_516.htm

[IChing]

69. Thanks I just posted the raw story at

bella ciao

[forgethell]

61. Torture technique??

This is not torture. Sheesh!!

[RobertSeattle]

47. And in Bizarro world...

Nazi's say reports of Genocide "irresponsible"

[nodehopper]

56. Ha! Touche.

[monobrau]

48. How about some more retractions?

Can we expect the whitehouse to call for retractions of false reports of WMD in Iraq? After all, the loss of life and destruction of democracy resulting from these erroneous reports is far more serious than the unrest over the Newsweek article.

[htuttle]

49. "retract the story"? That's ALL they got?

They are about to see the middle east boil over once again, and all they got in the 'toolbox' is to try to push Newsweek into retracting?

I guess they think the rest of the world just found out about this. This sort of thing (Koran desecration by US interrogators) has been reported around the world for at least three years now. Simply coercing Newsweek into retracting the story won't convince anyone that it didn't happen -- except for those inside the cocooon of the US media.

I guess that's really all they care about, though.

[Spazito]

50. Canadian News is reporting that....

Newsweek is saying they will not retract the story.

Washington 'puzzled' over Newsweek position

snip

But despite the apology, Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker defended his staff in an interview. He insisted Newsweek did nothing "professionally wrong," that nobody would be disciplined over the report, and that no retraction would be made.

snip

Stephen Hadley, the U.S. national security adviser, has promised to investigate the allegation.

"If it turns out to be true, obviously we will take action against those responsible, Stephen Hadley said in an interview for CNN's "Late Edition."

Meanwhile, the religious leader in Pakistan, Ahmed, said Islamic groups in Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Britain and Turkey plan to hold protests on May 27.

more

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116238425043_30/?hub=TopStories

[leQ]

51. i'm curious, was it used as toilet paper or just flushed?

[Massachusetts]

53. How many stories have the Bushits floated that should have been

RETRACTED!


"Today, the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, said Newsweek should retract the article."

[Vincardog]

111. Here is an idea RETRACT aWoL.

[ZR2]

54. Hell, everything dealing with religion

should be flushed down the toilet. This would be a much happier world without people being worried about some invisible man....

[aquart]

55. Uh huh. Now I KNOW the story's true.

[Journeyman]

57. And put that toothpaste back in the tube! . . . n/t

[daleo]

58. It was a non-retraction retraction, at best

The back and forth about this I read in my paper today (between the Pentagon and Newsweek) clearly gave a ton of wiggle room for the Pentagon to issue a series of statements that seemed to deny this, but didn't actually do so. Ditto for Newsweek. But you have to parse the language fairly carefully to see that.

[gulliver]

59. Why don't they just say it isn't true?

Geez. They dance around calling for retractions, saying Newsweek "got the facts wrong", etc. Why don't they just say "The facility we (the Bush Administration) set up in Guantanamo Cuba has never engaged in desecration of the Koran." Very simple I would think.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

60. When the NeoCon Overlords want something retracted,...

...you can bet it's a true story. And a true story that's been repeated many times in the past, and still going on today.

[Democat]

62. When will Newsweek retract the Weapons of Mass Destruction story?

Never because they do what the Bush White House tells them to do.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

63. Sure, as soon as BUSH RETRACTS HIS HEAD FROM CHENEY'S ASS!

Newsweek better hold firm against this ASSAULT on journalistic freedom...fuck'em.

JB

[bushisanidiot]

64. This from a white house who's nosepicking leader can't admit ONE mistake

out of the many he has made as "president"?? he has been asked at least TWICE by the press if he regrets any decision he has made as president and he can't think of one damned thing..

gawd.

the hypocrasy of the republican party is unbelievable.

Newsweek should stand their ground and make the pentagon PROVE they haven't flushed copies of the Koran down the toilet. Send inspectors in to prove it never happened. heh..

[damntexdem]

65. Yeah, sure, but consider:

it's hard to pull that Koran back up out of the pipes.

[UpInArms]

67. CBS QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is Newsweek's error the worst journalistic blunde

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Is Newsweek's error the worst journalistic blunder of modern times?

Please send your comments to [email protected]

I think you know what to do :eyes:

[rodeodance]

68. msnbc phased it as" the stories that cost lives and the ethical issues

involved in these stories"--meaning should they or should they not report such stories? oh my---because the Arab world is upset by something bad we did--does this mean they will not report such stories again?

[UpInArms]

71. here's the commentary that the question was attached to

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/print_story.asp?print=1&guid={8A3D4E74-F102-4BE7-88BB-265BF09F9A24}&siteid=mktw

excerpt:

Newsweek may have also set a new standard for journalistic irresponsibility -- and spinning -- since it stopped short of issuing a retraction.

The blunder looks even more damaging than other recent cases of careless reporting because the shaky report led to fatal riots and put Americans in danger around the world.

In its May 9 issue, Newsweek, relying on anonymous sources, said U.S. military personnel had found that interrogators at the detention installation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had flushed a copy of the Quran, the sacred text of Islam, down a toilet.

The explosive story was picked up in publications in Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East where it sparked a series of protests and riots. As a result, at least 15 people have been reported dead.

<snip>

How could Newsweek have allowed such an important a single-sourced story (featuring an anonymous source, no less) to be published?

I would chalk it up to Newsweek wanting very much to have a scoop of any kind. More than most magazines, it prides itself on being as capable of breaking news as the big daily newspapers.

...more...

[Oreo]

74. Here's mine

This is a major embarrassment to the Bush regime. They obviously sent out the attack dogs which made the anonymous source retract his statement. There are several other reports of desecration of the Koran. http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/usa/gitmo1004/3.htm#_ftnref27

Now Scott McClellan is saying it's damaging to the US's reputation because people were killed? What of the tens of thousands of Iraqi's that were killed after Bush's WMD lies? Where's the apology there?

The nation is teetering on the brink of fascism. Newsweek will be forced to bow to the administration and set an example for other news organizations not to question their power.

I used to wonder how the Germans were stupid enough to follow Hitler in the 30's. Now, unfortunately, I have an answer.

[UpInArms]

78. well said!

:thumbsup:

[Nordmadr]

112. My letter:

You know, the way you ask that question shows your bias.

Could the report by Newsweek be considered irresponsible? Perhaps; but in this country we supposedly have something called freedom of the press. It used to be one of the tools that could be used to insure that the government we elect is on the up and up with us. Where have those days gone?

Information regarding the desecration of the Koran by our forces has been reported elsewhere, by Human Rights Watch for starters. Newsweek is not the first. You'll note that you do not hear the Bush Administration actually denying the truth of the accusations. You simply hear a shift from the proper issue. Is it true?

It is most ironic to hear the individuals in charge of this administration complaining about investigative integrity. Are we not in the middle of a war based on bad research?

Sincerely,

R. Reichert
New York

[ckramer]

77. Does the guv'ment control the media or the media control the guv'ment

in this country?

Or does corporation control the media or the White house?

It's getting more interesting day by day.

[killbotfactory]

70. Newsweek falls on their sword

Conservatives everywhere rejoice.

[Gyre]

118. Newsweek is a zionist rag

Does anybody NOT expect them to shill for this admin?

Gyre

[triguy46]

72. Its easy to understand the Whitehouse concern

They have spent so much time and energy in support of Islam, promoting world peace and understanding among diverse religious groups. I feel their pain, that they could be so misconstrued.

[rodeodance]

73. msnbc just had a short report on this. some journalist saying that this

will only add to teh distrust of the media in the US.
Also saying Newsweek has to continue to investigate the story --this onimous sourse'--is obviously not enough.

[rodeodance]

75. nominating--this has the potential to be another Rathergate --when was

the last time the WH actually asked/demanded a REtraction?

[rodeodance]

84. State Dept is telling all embassies that the US respects the Koran==this

was a story on msnbc right now (damage control you know).

[Catrina]

86. The solution for Newsweek seems

simple to me. In their next issue, they should, first, reveal their source, then bluntly ask the Administration outright whether they are objecting to Newsweeks publication of information that has been published through numerous other sources (and they should reference them) or are they saying that the information is untrue?

You CANNOT back down to these people. The way to stop them from attacking is to always attack back.

Newsweek should ask in print, what the cowardly WH press corps won't ask. They should address their questions to Scott McClellan, adding that they are willing to have a dialogue about the charges, which have been made over and over again, in other publications. Until then, they have nothing further to say regarding 'retractions' since the substance of their article can be substantiated by former inmates, by Human Rights groups, etc. etc.


They also should deny any responsibility for the deaths over there. They should should republish the reports of the demonstrations, (before the Koran issue) in Afghanistan regarding the 'heavy handed' tactics of the US military, Karzai's requests to stop them, the killiing of women and children etc.

They should then ask the WH when they will be retracting their statements regarding WMDs, which so enraged the American people that they supported a war that has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis.

And again, ask them 'Were detainees in US prisons tortured, humiliated, killed, or not?? I would go for broke, if I were in their position.

The rest of the media, as they did to Dan Rather, are jumping on the bandwagon ~ instead of supporting their colleagues, they know that Newsweek told the truth. They are despicable, all of them and this is the result of what happens when you first start caving in. They will be picked off, one by one, yesterday Dan Rather, today Newsweek, who's next? Stand and fight, before it's too late.

[warrens]

80. Looks like Whitaker may fight back

But Mr. Whitaker said in an interview later: "We're not retracting anything. We don't know what the ultimate facts are."

Which means, he plans to investigate the charge himself, and I think we know he's going to find out it's true or at least very likely to be true. And that will open a whole box of worms the administration is NOT going to like.

[radar]

81. Yeah, right...

...Like everything done by this mis-administration was building towards a happy ending "right around the corner."

"We've been working so hard! The world community was just starting to see we have their best interests at heart! All of our efforts to help the world become a better place...ruined by NewsWeek!"
(a little artistic license)

[spuddonna]

82. Human Rights Watch: Aug '04 "the guards "would kick the Koran..."

"Detainees also complained about the interference with their ability to pray and the lack of respect given to their religion... They also complained that when the Korans were provided, the guards “would kick the Koran, throw it into the toilet and generally disrespect it.�Footnote 27 - Statement of Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Rhuhel Ahmed, “Detention in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay,� released publicly on August 4, 2004, para. 72, 74. The disrespect of the Koran by guards at Camp X-Ray was one of the factors prompting a hunger strike. Ibid., para. 111-117.)

This is from Human Rights Watch. This is OLD news.

I love that Newsweek is suddenly responsible for our foreign policy and intelligence gathering blunders!!

[DURHAM D]

83. For a change, what goes around comes around with regard to

one of the reporters on this story. Micheal Isikoff was closely associated with Lucianne Goldberg and Linda Tripp and helped them (as repug operatives) elevate the Monica matter - he was the most interested and indignant about the salacious details of the contact. He would get on tv and smirk and carry on to the point I just wanted to pull out his tongue and slap him with it. He was so smug and so self-righteous. He is a first class jerk and frankly seemed real dedicated to ingratiating himself with the repugs.

I think he lost a lot of stature within his profession over his hounding of Clinton on a false issue.

[PsychoDad]

85. No doubt...

Whatever the eventual truthfulness of the report, this incident with Newsweek will be used whenever there is any news or report that does not fit in with the "official" view.

This is an example of changing reality in the media to suit and conform to what the administration wants.

[jobycom]

87. OMG, did the WH REALLY just criticize someone for getting the facts wrong?

Still waiting on that Bush apology for invading Iraq and killing OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND INNOCENT PEOPLE based on wrong facts. His blunder was a bit worse than Newsweek's, if newsweek even blundered, and Bush still says he'd do it all again knowing what he knows now.

If there were any decency left in this filthy cesspool of a formerly great nation, Newsweek would demand that Bush retract his war before they retract their story.

[ananda]

88. now then, exactly who is..

.. going to act as a named source on this desecration at Gitmo?

I mean, nobody is going to talk openly.. so the source would have to be anonymous, right?

So, what's the big fukkin deal about it being anonymous?

Also, is this going to descend into another DanRather type thing? Sheesh.

Sue

[Miss Chybil]

89. If they're worried about this stuff getting in the news...

they shouldn't do it. Simple as that.

[Up2Late]

90. White House says Newsweek report damaged U.S. image (Reuters)

(Are these statements by Scott McClellan Irony, Hypocrisy, both? All I know is they are outrageous coming from THIS WH.)

White House says Newsweek report damaged U.S. image


(Photo from Reuters)

Mon May 16, 2005 03:49 PM ET

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday an inaccurate Newsweek report based on an anonymous source had damaged the U.S. image overseas by claiming U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay. At the same time, the Pentagon said an investigation remained open into allegations contained in Newsweek's May 9 report that triggered several days of rioting in Afghanistan and other countries in which at least 16 people were killed.

Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker apologized to the victims on Sunday and said the magazine inaccurately reported that U.S. military investigators had confirmed personnel at the detention facility in Cuba had flushed the Muslim holy book down the toilet.

"It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think there's a certain journalistic standard that should be met and in this instance it was not." "The report has had serious consequences," McClellan said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged." "It has certainly caused damage to the credibility of the media as well, and Newsweek itself," he added later.

The U.S. image had already been tarnished in many parts of the Arab world, and Washington has labored to rebuild trust among Muslims following last year's disclosures that U.S. guards at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners. The report sparked violent protests across the Muslim world -- from Afghanistan, where 16 were killed and more than 100 injured, to Pakistan, Indonesia and Gaza. In the past week the reported desecration was condemned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and by the Arab League.

(more at link above)

[bluedog]

91. HAHA

can't be damaged anymore than the great" WMDS" lie.or the "yellow cake"..or the "mushroom cloud"................

[woodsprite]

92. If they want to see who's destroyed the US "image",

I suggest they take a gander in the oval office.

[Hobarticus]

93. Never mind the message, kill the messenger...

Thing is, does anyone really doubt that it happened?

Jesus, this stuff just writes itself, eh?

[CottonBear]

94. Sorry Scotty. It's Bu$h who has damaged the US image.

:grr:

[Tesla]

95. More tarnished than before????

You can do things I thought were impossible , mr shrub!!!

[johnnie]

96. That's unbelievable

The sad truth is that many many people will not see the irony in this story.

[LisaM]

97. Something about this whole story stinks

I, for one, believe that what Newsweek published is probably accurate, and now they are being scapegoated the way Dan Rather was. It's nuts.

[warrens]

100. The editor, it appears, is going to fight back

He says the story is basically true and that there will be no retraction. He evidently has several reporters working on it...this could backfire on Smirky BIG TIME.

[Maraya1969]

103. I HOPE that is true and it comes to fruition

The White House has just found another scapegoat with this story. I hope it kicks it back - right where it hurts.

The good thing is Newsweek has its credibility to keep so that will override the WH's agenda - hopefully.

[grytpype]

101. I think you're right.

I think the story is true, and the Bushists are trying to smear NW to distract the public from the truth. Typical tactics from Bush.

[Tempest]

102. The story is true

Human Rights Report, October 2004:

Detainees also complained about the interference with their ability to pray and the lack of respect given to their religion. For example, the British detainees state that they were never given prayer mats and initially were not provided Korans. They also complained that when the Korans were provided, the guards “would kick the Koran, throw it into the toilet and generally disrespect it.”

http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/usa/gitmo1004/3.htm#_ftnref27

----------

Newsweek report on Quran matches many earlier accounts

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/newsweek_koran_report_516.htm

Contrary to White House assertions, the allegations of religious desecration at Guantanamo published by Newsweek May 6 are common among ex-prisoners and have been widely reported outside the United States, RAW STORY has learned.

Several former detainees at the Guantanamo and Bagram airbase prisons have reported instances of their handlers sitting or standing on the Quran, throwing or kicking it in toilets, and urinating on it.

<more>

[bpilgrim]

105. they always need a scape goat for their behavior

if this was a sane world it would serve as an opportunity to highlight ALL the atrocities committed by this regime besides this one.

remember the 'Christian' general at church talking about our holy war against the muslims... sure are M$MW forgot all about that but the www hasn't.

psst... pass the word ;->

peace

[calimary]

107. I can't help but be suspicious myself. The Dan Rather uproar has died

down. It's so last year. Gone and forgotten. And they really can't target CBS anymore, realistically or with any "believability". Sooooooooooooooo... MAYBE they decide they need to pick a different target... all in the name of discrediting the mainstream press. It shouldn't be broadcast this time, maybe - um - hey! What about print? Not the New York Times or some such thing - that'd be too obvious. Besides, they're already going through their own soul-searching, and we sent them that anthrax letter awhile ago. So - HEY! How 'bout Time or Newsweek? Yeah! Newsweek! Might be fun to fuck with that Michael Isikoff so he doesn't suddenly turn and do a stained-blue-dress on us. We oughta cut him off at the knees BEFORE he starts making trouble, 'eh? Next target if we need it might oughta be radio...

So that when something like the Downing Street uproar starts gaining ground, if the mainstream press finally begins to run with it, the gut reaction from the "heartland" will be - oh that DAMNED MEDIA!!! Why do they hate America?!?!?! Praise the LOWERED!!!

Maybe I'm jumping way out over this. Maybe I'm tripping over a tinfoil hat as big as the rings of Saturn. But I can't help it by now, considering who we're dealing with. By now, I truly wouldn't put ANYTHING past them.

Besides, nice red herring to blame all the "why do the Islamics hate America so?" on a late-in-the-game article in Newsweek, to distract from the REAL reason the Islamic world hates America - which comes directly back to bush's war and his idiotic, disgraceful "policies."

Believe me, they don't hate us because - some asshole torturer recently flushed a copy of the Koran in the toilet. Their hatred for us was at a full boil LONG before this. This is a slap in the face of a body that's already been given 400 lashes and then skinned alive.

[TahitiNut]

110. I agree. They were given a 'false source' and were hooked.

This stinks of Rovian dirty tricks.

(1) Take a scandal, any scandal.
(2) Dangle some counterfeit bait that seems to confirm the scandal.
(3) After the media swallows the bait (don't just hook 'em), "prove" the bait was counterfeit.
(4) Then use the counterfeit-based story to repudiate something which is an absolutely true scandal. This paints everyone who then reports the scandal as having swallowed counterfeit bait, and drives the scandal itself off the radar.

I think this can be used to "defend" criminals in court, too. Pay someone to claim they witnessed the crime. Make them appear more attractive than actual witnesses. When the prosecution "bites" and has them testify, interrogate them and impeach their testimony. This then blows the prosecution out of the water in the jury's eyes. I can easily imagine this ploy being used in white collar crime cases.

[fedupinBushcountry]

98. ROFL

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: What hypocrites.

[killbotfactory]

99. They didn't retract it because the story is true

you shameless asshats.

[1956]

104. Unbelievable- damaged our rep?

The only one responsible for smearing our name with blood is GW!
The audacity!

[peacetalksforall]

106. Want to know who killed our image?

Find the images for these people...

Dick Cheney
George Bush (both of them)
All the other Bushes
James Baker
Edward Meese and all his Fed Society brothers
Rice and Rumsfeld
Wolfkowitz and the remaining PNAC members
Ashcroft
Ridge
Melhman and Gillespie and Racinot and their friends
All the think tankers and foundations
All the reverends and their followers
Military brass, ceo's, bankers and investment jefes.

[killbotfactory]

109. Exactly.

Like the assholes who want Bolton to go the UN give a flying shit what the world thinks of them.

[deadparrot]

108. No, no...

I think Commander CuckooBananas has taken care of that all on his own.

[oxbow]

113. My letter to various media

Hello. I just wanted to say that the Newsweek report on guards desecrating the Quran was not based on one anonymous source alone. Former detainees, The BBC, The Washington Post, The Center for Constitution Rights and many other sources have verified that just the kind of abuse that Newsweek reported on did in fact happen multiple times. They reported on this years before the Newsweek story ever broke. Given this history, I think it's very hypocritical of the free press to take part in this scapegoating of Newsweek. You have a duty to stand up for facts and cut through the hype to the truth of the matter. Instead, many in the media are complicit in cannibalizing one of their own in order to avoid the wrath of the far right-wing. Our free press was once the envy of the world. Please consider returning to those roots once again, because I fear the neutered beast that this new media machine has become.

Sincerely,
xxx xxxxxx

P.S. I found this piece to be helpful in sorting out fact from fiction in this debate:
http://rawstory.com/exclusives/newsweek_koran_report_516.htm

[NeoConsSuck]

114. White House refutes UK Iraq memo

<if a dupe, my apologies>

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Claims in a recently uncovered British memo that intelligence was "being fixed" to support the Iraq war as early as mid 2002 are "flat out wrong," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday.

McClellan insisted the process leading up to the decision to go to war was "very public" -- and that the decision to invade in March 2003 was taken only after Iraq refused to comply with its "international obligations."

"Saddam Hussein was the one, in the end, who chose continued defiance. And only then was the decision made, as a last resort, to go into Iraq."

However, McClellan also said he had not seen the "specific memo," only reports of what it contained.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/16/iraq.memo/index.html

---------
Why did it take them so long to refute this?

[MisterP]

115. in NewSpeak, "refute" translates to "deny," apparently

[Gyre]

116. Who ya gonna believe?

Me, or your lyin eyes?:) (sorry I've been trying to work that into a conversation w/o success all day. Had to ask it.)

Gyre