incorrect "stories" - setup or goof up?

[radfringe]

:tinfoilhat: warning....

newsweek recently "apologized" for incorrect information on the Koran Flushing story

Dan Rather had to apologize for the bush-awol story

and there have been other stories which have been retracted or resulted in "apologies"

info on these stories were cited as coming from "White House officials"

Main Stream Media ain't what it's suppose to be -- most of the reporting is no more than regurgitation of scripted transcripts. But once in a blue moon - a "story" breaks, sets off public outrage or concern -- then it turns out to be "incorrect"

do you think it's a setup to discredit a news source? or is it just a goofup by reporters who fail to do a through investigation and confirm sources?

I was inclined to think it's just a goof-up -- but now I'm not too sure. Maybe my :tinfoilhat: just needs adjusting

[mopaul]

1. it's a shame we have to ask

the beauty of a rumor is that it works, true or false. "I have no information confirming that Bill Clinton fathered a black baby". not really a lie, just the suggestion in one's head.

in rather's case, it was vengeance and hatred of cbs for daring to discredit the monkey prince. i have no clue about the koran/toilet story. but it certainly had a concrete effect, and many people died in riots sparked by it. weird world

[izzie]

2. This has always gone on.

In fact I think they used to dig for stories more than they do now. Seems to me they did any how. Seems to me they, newspapers, had reporters all over the world and now it is only a few. Maybe they do not need them with all the new stuff they have for sending info but I would think boots on the ground would still be very important. The errors have always been around. I have still not read just what was said and I am sure it was just one of the reasons it would set these people off. After all it is on top of a lot of odd things the President has said. Then their are his actions.

[Clark2008]

3. The Dan Rather thing was neither.

The documents were never proven to be fake and the sentiments described in them were confirmed by those in the know at the time as a true.
The Newsweek story probably was true - I'm betting they DID flush and/or in some way dishonor the Qur'an. However, reporting this fact created a shitstorm and now, under pressure by the blivet administration, Newsweek has decided to backtrack to stop the Fatwa that has been issued (of course, it won't matter - Muslims believe it to be true based on other things).
The media ain't what it used to be.

[mopaul]

4. if the plan was to piss off the entire Muslim world, it worked.

sometimes it seems that that IS the whole idea.

[Clark2008]

9. No... I don't think it was a plan to piss off the entire Muslim world.

I think they really did flush the Qur'an; however, in reporting the truth, Newsweek DID piss off the entire Muslim world and now the Pentagon is pissed because their operatives got caught doing it and are lying to make Newsweek backtrack so that the entire Muslim world doesn't go ballistic.
Too late. The Pentagon should have thought about that before their operatives flushed the Holy book.

[mopaul]

12. it does sound like one of our abu ghraib type activities

one gets the impression that the muslims are more pissed about the desecration of the koran than the slaughter of hundreds of thousands, but i'm sure that impression is dubious too.

the g.i.'s HAVE been caught humiliating muslims p.o.w.'s.

[Karenina]

17. I think they're pretty enraged

about ALL OF IT!!! How 'bout that memo, eh?

For any doubters of this current "frat-prank" I give you Daily Kos:

http://dailykos.com/story/2005/5/15/211444/985

[bullimiami]

14. spineless media...cowed into retraction by arrogant fascists.

truth is verboten. lies are rewarded.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Right wing noise machine will run with this.

Irresponsible liberal reporters out to destroy America.

If Rove didn't plant this I bet he wishes he did.

[orpupilofnature57]

6. Kkkarl Rove!

[liberal N proud]

7. My question when I heard this was are we sure it is Newsweek

who should apologize?

Did someone at gitmo actually flush the Koran and Newsweek was just reporting the incident or was it fabricated either by Newsweek or KKKarl and his regime?
Then Newsweek is the one forced to take the black eye.

[Karenina]

11. They got it right.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1785994

What we are witnessing is the straw breaking the camel's back.

[Junkdrawer]

8. If you accuse a Jesuit of killing a man and his dog...

he will triumphantly produce the dog...

[me b zola]

10. A third theory

Several people in LBN's thread suggested that the "can't confirm the story" story may just be more strong arming from the * junta. Although the administration seems to thrive on destabilizing the Middle East, the fact that Kuwait is raising oil prices as a result of the story of the desicration of the Koran makes this "retraction" suspicious.

[Bluebear]

13. I'm inclined to think the story was true.

I didn't see that among your choices but I can certainly picture some wrong soul carrying out that tactic. Newsweek is being pressured to recant the story.

[Karenina]

15. Someone please 'splain to me

how it's Newsweek's fault that the *Amerikkkan MIC is running amok and that EVERYONE (except Muricans) has seen the pictures, read the stories, heard credible testimonies and is CRINGING at the spectacular HORROR of the rampage? Hmmmmm???? The "tipping point" just may be upon us. :hide:

[BiggJawn]

16. Set up. Somebody called the Newsweek back-pedal this weekend.

It's all over the MSM, but I heard it first on DU yesterday...

"I can't remember if I saw that in the report or not..."

Oh? How about checking your NOTES????

[applegrove]

18. It would not have to be a set up. They are opportunists in the WH.

A story on hurting Muslim sensibilities in regards to psychological operations on detained terrorists was bound to happen again sometime.

Manipulative people will play with the cards very close. And then jump when the 'thing/issue/need' they have been waiting for appears.

Look at how far they spun 9/11. All the way into Iraq. And into a 'new world view' where America has to be a perpetual war empire.

They are opportunists for sure. It does not take a genius to know that newspeople where searching for more stories on abuses. All they would have to do is wait.

And remember, that propaganda during a war is allowed. It is a tool just as much as a tank is.