Cowardice in Journalism Award for Newsweek

[fish08]

by Greg Palast

"It's appalling that this story got out there," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on her way back from Iraq.

What's not appalling to Condi is that the US is holding prisoners at Guantanamo under conditions termed "torture" by the Red Cross. What's not appalling to Condi is that prisoners of the Afghan war are held in violation of international law after that conflict has supposedly ended. What is not appalling to Condi is that prisoner witnesses have reported several instances of the Koran's desecration.

What is appalling to her is that these things were reported. So to Condi goes to the Joseph Goebbels Ministry of Propaganda Iron Cross.

But I don't want to leave out our President. His aides report that George Bush is "angry" about the report -- not the desecration of the Koran, but the reporting of it.

And so long as George is angry and Condi appalled, Newsweek knows what to do: swiftly grab its corporate ankles and ask the White House for mercy.

But there was no mercy. Donald Rumsfeld pointed the finger at Newsweek and said, "People lost their lives. People are dead." Maybe Rumsfeld was upset that Newsweek was taking away his job. After all, it's hard to beat Rummy when it comes to making people dead.

And just for the record: Newsweek, unlike Rumsfeld, did not kill anyone -- nor did its report cause killings. Afghans protested when they heard the Koran desecration story (as Christians have protested crucifix desecrations). The Muslim demonstrators were gunned down by the Afghan military police -- who operate under Rumsfeld's command.

Continued...
http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=428&row=0

[flakie]

Are we even suprised anymore?

[watch-this-drive]

What's not appalling to Condi is that the US is holding prisoners at Guantanamo under conditions termed "torture" by the Red Cross. What's not appalling to Condi is that prisoners of the Afghan war are held in violation of international law after that conflict has supposedly ended. What is not appalling to Condi is that prisoner witnesses have reported several instances of the Koran's desecration.

What is appalling to her is that these things were reported. So to Condi goes to the Joseph Goebbels Ministry of Propaganda Iron Cross.

If the above is true then report it... - Strong Journalism
if the Koran/Toilet story is true then report it... - Strong Journalism
if the Koran/Toilet story is not true then dont report it
if the Koran/Toilet story is not true and is reported and people die as a direct result then take it back - obviously responsibility for bad Journalism

Where is the cowardice?[/quote]

[hivemind]

If the Koran/Toilet story is not true and is reported and people die as a direct result then take it back - obviously responsibility for bad Journalism

You left one out -

Koran/toilet story is true, accused of causing deaths by reporting, then retract story - ?

[watch-this-drive]

If the Koran/Toilet story is not true and is reported and people die as a direct result then take it back - obviously responsibility for bad Journalism

You left one out -

Koran/toilet story is true, accused of causing deaths by reporting, then retract story - ?

That would be cowardice but what makes you think its true?

[dewinter]

The US has admitted kicking, pissing on and spraying water on Korans at Gitmo.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/04/guanta ... index.html

The water splashing was part of a water balloon fight. Oh, the fun they have in Cuba!! I especailly like this one:

On March 25, 2005, a detainee said "urine came through an air vent" and "splashed on him and his Quran while he laid near the air vent." A guard admitted he was at fault, saying he urinated near an air vent and the "wind blew his urine through the vent into the block." The detainee was given a new uniform and Quran. The guard was reprimanded and placed on gate guard duty away from detainees.

You have to give the Yanks some credit for coming up with an not entirely white washed report.

[badinage]

are the Strike Team in Cuba??

[dewinter]

Well, that might explain the long break between season 3 and 4.

[theREALmattbruton]

Well, that might explain the long break between season 3 and 4.

what?