Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Incendiary Koran claim may be false, editor admits
The Times ^ | May 16, 2005 | Roland Watson

Posted on 05/15/2005 3:29:47 PM PDT by MadIvan

THE incendiary account of US interrogators flushing a copy of the Koran down a toilet at Guantanamo Bay may not, after all, be true, the magazine behind the claim said.

The report in last week’s Newsweek sparked riots in Afghanistan that spread across the Muslim world, leading to the deaths of at least 14 people and injuries to more than 120.

In this week’s edition the magazine backtracks. “We regret that we got any part of our story wrong and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the US soldiers caught in its midst,” Mark Whitaker, the Editor, wrote in an editorial.

The report last week said that the claims about the Koran, which previously had been aired by other news organisations, would be validated by an inquiry report into the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. It was based on conversations with a senior American official who said that he had seen mention of the Koran incident in the report.

However, on checking with the source since publication, Newsweek said that the official no longer could be sure that they had remembered correctly.

When told of Newsweek’s new stance, Lawrence DiRita, the Pentagon spokesman, raged: “People are dead because of what this son of a bitch said.”

The Pentagon has been under mounting pressure to get to the bottom of the allegations as anti-American riots spread from Gaza to Kabul to Jakarta. The allegations also drew an official protest from Saudi Arabia, one of America’s most crucial allies in the Islamic world.

Yesterday, the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition organisation, demanded that the US apologise, as did Islamic leaders in Bangladesh. In Beirut, Lebanon’s top Sunni Muslim cleric called for an international investigation.

The episode has threatened to give Washington its biggest headache overseas since the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, said that mistreatment of the Koran was “abhorrent” to right-thinking Americans.

Despite Newsweek’s about-turn, the Pentagon has yet to state officially that no mistreatment of the Koran by interrogators took place at Guantanamo Bay, where the US has held 600 detainees in legal limbo for more than three years.

General Richard Myers Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that no evidence has yet been found to support the claims. Such allegations had been raised before Newsweek’s report. A lawyer for some Guantanamo inmates has blamed the attempted suicide of 23 of them in August 2003 on a US guard stamping on the Koran.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: agitprop; aidandcomfort; antiamericanism; bushhassers; drudgeisbetter; fireisikoffscrewface; flushthekoranagain; gitmo; isikoffisalibbastard; koran; korandesecration; lyingliars; mediabias; newsweak; newsweek; newsweekliedkidsdied; newsweekliedwhodies; newsweekmurders; propaganda; provokeddeadlyriots; racebaiting; religionofjihad; religionofpeace; thenewsweekmurders; toilet; treason; waronerror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
Now they tell us.

Regards, Ivan


1 posted on 05/15/2005 3:29:47 PM PDT by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: pinz-n-needlez; LadyofShalott; Tolik; mtngrl@vrwc; pax_et_bonum; Alkhin; agrace; EggsAckley; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 05/15/2005 3:30:13 PM PDT by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jan in Colorado

Ping


3 posted on 05/15/2005 3:33:54 PM PDT by Gondring (Pretend you don't know me...I'm in the WPPFF.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: MadIvan

Don't know what all the brouhaha is about. They can put a crucifix in a jar of urine and call it art, but these knuckleheads get their panties in a bunch over some ALLEGED goings on.....


5 posted on 05/15/2005 3:35:57 PM PDT by Darkrunner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Just watched the Washington Bureau Chief of Newsweek on CNN. He was contrite about the deaths but ended his interview basically saying well the report was wrong, but they rioted and murdered because they don't like us because of our war on terror.

These scumballs at Newsweek have to go. They all have to be FIRED starting with the left wing Al Franken buddy Michael Isikoff.


6 posted on 05/15/2005 3:36:46 PM PDT by smag999
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

So why did they print it?

Oh wait, do I really have to ask that question?


7 posted on 05/15/2005 3:37:15 PM PDT by Guillermo (Bush is no conservative. Don't insult my intelligence by telling me that he is)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smag999

This is beyond "selective reporting."


8 posted on 05/15/2005 3:37:59 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

I thought you "opussed". Did you "un-opus"?


9 posted on 05/15/2005 3:38:21 PM PDT by RightFighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Dozens dead...

Some heads had better roll.


10 posted on 05/15/2005 3:39:13 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The noisiest people in the libraries these days are the librarians. (battlegearboat))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smag999

“People are dead because of what this son of a bitch said.”

Lawrence, Lawrence! Quit holding back, and let us know how you really feel. It is great to see someone with spine.


11 posted on 05/15/2005 3:39:47 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever (We shall never forget the atrocity of 11 Sept.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
"Yesterday, the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition organization, demanded that the US apologize, as did Islamic leaders in Bangladesh. In Beirut, Lebanon’s top Sunni Muslim cleric called for an international investigation."

Tell you what, come here and try to make me apologize! Lunatics! You were all dancing in the street on 9/11. Muslim Brotherhood you are nothing but a front for terrorists. Sunni Muslims, you knowingly spread poverty, illiteracy, fanaticism, bigotry through Islam around the world. Until you all apologize for your poor performance over the last what 1000 years and say SU.
12 posted on 05/15/2005 3:40:09 PM PDT by Chgogal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: Jet Jaguar

This story has reached critical mass now. The networks have been forced to report it. I predict several firings/resignations in the next couple of days.


14 posted on 05/15/2005 3:41:46 PM PDT by abb (Because News Reporting is too important to be left to the Journalists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Just to show us how very educated these numbskulls are. Let them slain each other. Maybe members of CAIR should follow their savage behavior and be done with it. Allah and those virgins are waiting for you.
15 posted on 05/15/2005 3:42:12 PM PDT by Random Nonsense
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Sue Newsweek for wrongful death. It's time to nail these morons to the wall.


16 posted on 05/15/2005 3:42:13 PM PDT by Old_Mil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
When told of Newsweek’s new stance, Lawrence DiRita, the Pentagon spokesman, raged: “People are dead because of what this son of a bitch said.”

My first thought, too, when MSNBC metioned this non-retraction/retraction a short time ago.

17 posted on 05/15/2005 3:43:05 PM PDT by syriacus (Weird George Felos repeatedly flicked his tongue out his gaping mouth when lying to the press 3/31)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Not that I want you gone - I love your contributions.


18 posted on 05/15/2005 3:43:13 PM PDT by RightFighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

"A lawyer for some Guantanamo inmates has blamed the attempted suicide of 23 of them in August 2003 on a US guard stamping on the Koran."
Pretty sensative terrorists.They would fit in well in the liberal camps of America.
Repeat after me the words of Senator Patrick Leahy. "It's not the evidence but the seriousness of the changes."
If there was indeed a U.S.guard stamping on the Koran and sending 23 terrorist into suicide attemps he should be given a promotion and commissioned if he desired a commissiion.
I think General Geo.Patton would have said to him. " Damn fine work son. Next time use both feet it will have twice the effect."


19 posted on 05/15/2005 3:43:31 PM PDT by em2vn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
The fallout of this lunacy will be tremendous...

the beginning of the end of the U.S.?

20 posted on 05/15/2005 3:47:06 PM PDT by GulfWar1Vet (Freedom is worth FIGHTIN FOR, for if we don't fight for it, we WILL lose it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson