INDCJournal: What Up, WaPo?

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May 27, 2005

What Up, WaPo?

Posted by Bill

I've noticed this as well. And it's odd, because the Post is usually more even-handed than many of those other publications. Nepotism for Newsweek? I'm unsure.

More on the rest of Michelle's linked article to follow (hopefully).

UPDATE: Compare the Washington Post's treatment of the newest wrinkle in the story ...

Pentagon Confirms Koran Incidents
'Mishandling' Cases Preceded Guidelines Established in 2003
(Emphasis Mine)

Pentagon officials said yesterday that investigators have identified five incidents of military guards and an interrogator "mishandling" the Koran at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but characterized the episodes as minor and said most occurred before specific rules on the treatment of Muslim holy items were issued.

... with the NY Times(!):

No Intentional Abuse of Koran at Guant�namo, General Says

(Emphasis mine)
...

WASHINGTON, May 26 - The American military commander at Guant�namo Bay, Cuba, said today that investigators had found "no credible evidence" that a Koran had ever been flushed down a toilet there to unsettle detainees, and no serious incidents of intentional mishandling of the Muslim holy book by Americans.

The commander, Brig. Gen. Jay W. Hood of the Army, said 13 possible incidents had been investigated in which the book might have been mishandled: 10 by guards and 3 by interrogators. Of the 13, only 5 embody "what could be broadly defined as mishandling of a Koran," the general said, but declined to provide details.

In several other incidents, he said, guards had accidentally touched the book or touched it "within the scope of their duties." And in two other incidents, both involving interrogations, there was possible inadvertent mishandling, General Hood said.

Each of the two leads leaves you with quite a different impression, no? I have to conclude that the WaPo is bent on covering Newsweek's ass, much like the Boston Globe tried to do for CBS when the National Guard story broke (both outlets were involved in the original presentation of the documents).

Posted by Bill at May 27, 2005 09:12 AM | TrackBack (1)

Comments

My guess is that it is an attempt to cover for Newsweek. I would go with the Nepotism angle, especially given the fact that the Times isn't always all that even handed with their headlines, but even on this one the Times got it right.

Posted by: Just Me at May 27, 2005 02:41 PM

I have a real problem with the story at a base level.

I just came form the story about the work of art of Bush being sodomized was too much for a public showing, but the piece with Pope Benedict XVI with the swastikas was okay. Go figure.

This story has a book being dropped and it is referred to as torture, but other forms of religious disrespect are supported with public tax funding. Go figure.

Excuse me, but Newsweek is an ass. This story was about not only a Quran/Koran being put down a toilet happening, which it wasn't, but the stated fact by Newsweek that it would be forthcoming in a Defense Department report, which it isn't. Newsweek was wrong and wrong .. they screwed the pooch. Once screwed this pooch doesn't every become unscrewed.
The a--....s, I mean editors, at the WaPo deserve a mention in the continuation of the screwing of this same pooch. If the editors think that they can change that to a "right and wrong", by slight of hand, it doesn't matter .. the pooch remains screwed .. and they are now accomplices. Newsweek is still wrong. Got that WaPo.

I'm sure this will get BBC coverage as the BBC has decided that it is now okay to air bestiality .. but never a Quran/Koran being dropped. Go figure.

Posted by: J_Crater at May 27, 2005 05:26 PM

The MSM continues its race to the bottom. It lies and disembles even when the truth has been announced. I guess circling the wagons against reality is the tactic of the day for the profession that dare not speak its name.

Posted by: ThomasJackson at May 27, 2005 07:18 PM

The number of ways it is possible to desecrate the Koran are truly staggering. Here are a few:

Touching it if you are not Muslim.

Touching the bag or box it�s in.

Having a dog in the house while reading the Koran.

Placing a book on the Koran.

Placing a crucifix in urine is NOT one of the ways. In fact, it's encouraged.

Go here and follow the link.

Posted by: moneyrunner at May 28, 2005 02:36 PM

I don't mean to be churlish, but I think this desperate attempt to support Newsweek is making these people look ridiculous. I don't think that the average American is going to feel great compunction if someone inadvertently touches the darn book.

They can rant all they want, but you just know those in flyover country are going to read these shocking tales and conclude that every claim of detainee abuse is this much BS.

Posted by: MaxedOutMama at May 29, 2005 11:14 PM