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Mistake? Really?
Just really quickly: I just saw this story that Muslims are skeptical over the Newsweek back-track on the Koran story—the one Newsweek ran last week saying that U.S. soldiers at Gitmo had abused the holy book.
It would be shocking to think that Newsweek has somehow been convinced by the U.S. gov't to retract the story, but hey, I'm pretty used to being shocked. How about you?
Posted May 16, 2005 07:06 AM | general politics
That would be hard to believe. It'd also be hard to believe that Newsweek's sources won't confirm their initial allegations due to fear of reprisal from the administration, because the administration never acts out against people who oppose it or voice concern. That, too, would be shocking.
Posted by: -Dave! at May 16, 2005 10:26 AM
With what's been going on lately in the media, I guess I would be a little less shocked if someone didn't check their sources or information carefully and printed something very sensational in an effort to make millions of dollars on a story that may not be entirely accurate. But it could be the other thing too.
Posted by: energy spatula at May 16, 2005 05:03 PM
This is analagous to the Rathergate thing. While the allegations are true (stories about desecration have been appearing in the media for almost 2 years) the source suddenly becomes questionable after the government protests.
Posted by: Steve at May 16, 2005 10:10 PM
I think you're all right. Newsweek wasn't "convinced" to retract the story so much as it was forced to when its source recanted. So was this irresponsible on Newsweek's part or on the source's? Perhaps the day has come to change the way reporters use anonymous sources, but if, as Steve suggests, the story is actually true, what are we to do about that?
I just wish I could trust the gov't not to lie. Dumb wish, huh?
Posted by: ambimb at May 17, 2005 05:56 AM
I wish I could too. I so want the government to work.
Posted by: monica at May 17, 2005 01:38 PM
I wish I could trust Newsweek not to lie.
Posted by: Brian at May 25, 2005 03:02 AM
