Newsweek Apologizes

[David]

AP


Newsweek magazine has apologized for errors in a story alleging that interrogators at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Quran, saying it would re-examine the accusations, which sparked outrage and deadly protests in Afghanistan.

The story also sparked protests in Pakistan, Yemen and the Gaza Strip. The 22-nation Arab League issued a statement saying if the allegations panned out, Washington should apologize to Muslims.

In Afghanistan, 15 people died and scores were injured in violence between protesters and security forces, prompting U.S. promises to investigate the allegations. In Afghanistan, Muslim leaders gave Washington three days to offer a response to the story.

"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," Newsweek Editor Mark Whitaker wrote in a note to readers.

In an issue dated May 9, the magazine reported that U.S. military investigators had found evidence that interrogators placed copies of Islam's holy book in washrooms and had flushed one down the toilet to get inmates to talk.

Whitaker wrote that the magazine's information came from "a knowledgeable U.S. government source," and before it published the item, writers Michael Isikoff and John Barry sought comment from two Defense Department officials. One declined to respond, and the other challenged another part of the story but did not dispute the Quran charge, Whitaker said.

But on Friday, a top Pentagon spokesman told the magazine that a review of the military's investigation concluded "it was never meant to look into charges of Quran desecration. The spokesman also said the Pentagon had investigated other desecration charges by detainees and found them 'not credible."'

Whitaker added that the magazine's original source later said he could not be sure he read about the alleged Quran incident in the report Newsweek cited, and that it might have been in another document.

"Top administration officials have promised to continue looking into the charges, and so will we," Whitaker wrote.

Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman said the magazine believes it erred in reporting the allegation that a prison guard tried to flush the Koran down a toilet and in stating that military investigators had confirmed the accusation.

"The issue here is to get the truth out, to acknowledge as quickly as possible what happened, and that's what we're trying to do," Klaidman told the "CBS Evening News" on Sunday.

Many of the 520 inmates at Guantanamo are Muslims arrested during the U.S.-led war against the Taliban and its al Qaeda allies in Afghanistan.

After Newsweek published the story, demonstrations spread across Afghanistan and Muslims around the world decried the alleged desecration.

In Afghanistan, Islamic scholars and tribal elders called for the punishment of anyone found to have abused the Quran, said Maulawi Abdul Wali Arshad, head of the religious affairs department in Badakhshan province.

Arshad and the provincial police chief said the scholars met in Faizabad, 310 miles northeast of the capital, Kabul, and demanded a "reaction" from U.S. authorities within three days.

Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric on Sunday said the reported desecration of the Quran is part of an American campaign aimed at disrespecting and smearing Islam.

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah called the alleged desecration a "brutal" form of torture and urged Muslims and international human rights organizations "to raise their voices loudly against the American behavior."

On Saturday, Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, both allies of Washington, demanded an investigation and punishment for those behind the reported desecration of the Quran.

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said in an interview for CNN's "Late Edition" that the allegations were being investigated "vigorously."

"If it turns out to be true, obviously we will take action against those responsible," he said.

[SuperScout]

Once again, we are subjected to the "Dan Rather School of Journalism" type of reporting, with the complete intent and purpose to embarass either the President, the United States of America, or both. It's another case of "let's run with the rumors," "don't bother to check, much less double-check, the facts, assuming there are any to begin with," and "let's print some drivel especially to underscore our contention that America's to blame for all the world's ills."

And what a lame and vacuous excuse for the harm they have caused, as uttered by Newsweek. Never mind that uninformed lives were lost in melees and confusion, disregard the threats to overseas Americans by paranoid zealots, and cast a blind eye to the damage of American goodwill. May the ink never dry on another copy of Newsweek.

[39mto39g]

Sould have there licens revoked, Pay restitution to the peoples familys that lost there lifes. and print a report to UPI stateing it was wrong, close there doors and put a for sale sign on the door.

Ron

[Arrow]

What Scout & Ron Said

[Andy]

I like what Ron said also but it does not go nearly far enough. American troops in every Muslim country are in greater danger today than they were a week ago. What was it, about 15 who were killed in the initial riots? In whatever job we have we will be held accountable for our actions. As a police officer, if my actions had resulted in the death of 15 people, don?t you think criminal charges would be have been brought for manslaughter? The same would be true for reckless behavior in most fields. It certainly is true when your driving your car.

File criminal charges against the author of this piece. It might result in a not guilty, however the rest of those new Dan Rather's would think twice, as would their editors, regarding the running of a story based on, ?Well this guy says??.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[Packo]

Too many of these so called journalist are foaming at the mouth to print all the bad news they can about our involvement in the war on terror. They can't wait to print an article like that and they can do it with impunity.....just cry freedom of the press.

The Malmady Massacure during the Battle of the Buldge did more to get our troops moving then anything else could of. When these assholes print this kind of stuff, they do more to hurt our troops then any Mullah could think of. Hope he can sleep at night...but fear he doesn't give a shit anyway or he/they would not have printed it.

Pack

[b3196]

There's so much I would like to say about the media, but its useless. Until we hold them accountable for the after affects of poor journalism through criminal charges directed at the reporter and editor or civil lawsuits. They're ust gonna continue to publish
this bull$hit......whatever sells.....truth or fiction
Bob K

[Seascamp]

Blood has been spilled; there is body count the world has just gotten more dangerous. I think it?s safe to assume this situation has a life of its own now with a strong vested interest in the accuracy of the account. That Newsweek would run such an explosive story without seamless authentication means they are either turnip brained or malicious or both. Apparently their anonymous source has back pedaled away from the story and now Newsweek is hung by their own wagging tongue. Too late for ?Oops, Sorry?.

One would think that after CBS News got Maped and Rathered someone would get a clue. This is far more serious than Bush whacking and everyone in the loop should do the honorable thing and just go fall on their sword. But honor isn't a common virtue in the Media so maybe they just have a party or something like that.

Scamp
.

[39mto39g]

First--- the story should have never been printed, Even if it was true, it does nobody any good.

Second--- people that want to fight you don't need much of a reason, even a false reason. "They" don't like us and want us dead. Personnaly I could care less about there bible or them.We need to stop being the big Woooooooses, F- the muslems and there way of life. they don't like it, tough, do somthing about it. We'll kick your ass.

Ron

[Jerry D]

I can remember the old WW2 sayings like "loose lips sink ships" todays reporters seem to think their byline is more important then the lives of our servicemembers. Just doesn't seem right to me