Newsweek apologizes; Afghans want action

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 5/15/05 | Stephen Graham - AP

[NormsRevenge]

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Muslims in Afghanistan gave Washington three days to offer a response to a Newsweek story that claimed the Islamic holy book was desecrated at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, but the magazine apologized Sunday for the report, which prompted deadly riots across Afghanistan last week.

Reaction across the Islamic world has been strong, with daily demonstrations since the May 9 story came out. At least 15 people died in Afghanistan after protests broke out Tuesday following the report that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, placed Qurans in washrooms to unsettle suspects, and in one case "flushed a holy book down the toilet."

Many of the 520 inmates at Guantanamo are Muslims arrested during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. In both Afghanistan and Pakistan, insults to the Quran and Islam's prophet, Muhammad, are regarded as blasphemy and punishable by death.

"The American soldiers are known for disrespect to other religions. They do not take care of the sanctity of other religions," Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the Pakistani chief of a coalition of radical Islamic groups, said Sunday.

Ahmed's comments came a day after 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.

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.

But Newsweek apologized in an editor's note for Monday's edition and said they were re-examining the allegations.

"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.

Newsweek's source later said he was unsure about the origin of the Quran allegation, and a top Pentagon spokesman told the magazine that the military "had investigated other desecration charges by detainees and found them 'not credible.'"

Meanwhile, President Bush's national security adviser said Sunday the allegation was being investigated "vigorously."

"If it turns out to be true, obviously we will take action against those responsible, Stephen Hadley said in an interview for CNN's "Late Edition."

Ahmed, the religious leader in Pakistan, said Islamic groups in Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Britain and Turkey would hold protests on May 27 against the alleged desecration.

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.

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah urged Muslims and international human rights organizations "to raise their voices loudly against the American behavior, which is hostile to Islam and Muslims."

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, Fadlallah called the alleged desecration a "brutal" form of torture.

"This act is not an individual act carried out by an American soldier, but rather it is part of the American behavior of intellectual and psychological education in disrespecting Islam and smearing its image in the souls of Americans," Fadlallah said.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" "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."

The Runaway Bride's apology was more convincing.
Newsweek saying " My Bad " is not nearly enough.
Someone has to hold the Runaway Media accountable.
My subscription to Newsweek was cancelled a few years ago and I avoid NBC and MSNBC.
We the people should hold those who advertise and subsidize Newsweek and NBC, equally accountable.

[Tarpon]

I think your point is well taken. They definitely have problems in their society. But having our media do these kinds of things does nothing but feed the fanatics and make it much harder for more peaceful voices to prevail.

[Laverne]

Any idea who their advertisers are? I have already sent several emails to newsweek editor, and will gladly join in a calling/email campaign to their editors. What newsweek did was despicable and action needs to be taken....

[Txsleuth]

the article says that this is just another way Americans disrespect Islam and is smearing its image in the souls of Americans....

I don't think that THIS incident affects the was Americans feel about Islam....I think the Islamofascists have done a good enough job on 9/11 and other times..

[Carling]

I hate to say it, because I consider myself a patient person, but the riots have made me question the true intent and overall sanity of the Muslims of the Middle East in general.

I am outraged at NewsWEAK, of course, but the primal reaction of 'free' Muslims over this misreporting scares me much more than a leftist rag ever will.

[thombo]

"They will claim the story is real,and never provide evidence."I'm inclined to agree.Does the reporter even have to name his source?I support a free press,but there should be guidlines and penalties for this type of behavior.

[jyro]

When Dan Rather lied, no one died. How can we now believe ANYTHING Newsweek prints. Newsweek can now join CBS at the bottom of the heep.

[kanawa]

The American soldiers are known for disrespect to other religions. They do not take care of the sanctity of other religions

Whereas Islam respects other religions
Hypocritical Ba$tards

[perfect stranger]

ping

[kanawa]

"Any idea who their advertisers are?"

Posted by seawitch1261 here....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1403648/posts?page=39#39

From Little Green Footballs of the current adveritsors:
Nissan
Metlife
Microsoft
Walden University
Trend Micro
Discovery channel
Franklin Templeton Investments
Exxon Mobil
T Mobile
Sepracor
Harper Collins
Ford
Lever 2000
Thermacare
Transitions
Claritin
Nexium
Triscuit
Kashi
Phillip Morris
Dannon
Merck
GE
Toyota
MSNBC
Little Giant (ladders)
Seattles Best
Sleepright
Canon
Budweiser

[fortunecookie]

I agree, they were just looking for any excuse to riot and get others who may have been more level headed to join in. Newsweek has done enormous damage. The troops will be suspect anywhere there are Muslims and Korans, and imams who hate the troops are tripping over each other to exploit capitalize on it. A little part of me wonders just how 'accidental' the Newsweek error was, but that is suspicious of me.

[MinuteGal]

Isakoff's computer should be seized by the FBI, as well as the computers of all others who had anything to do with this traitorous incident.

I'll bet lots of computers are disappearing from Newsweak offices as we speak.

Again, this is all about destroying President Bush....as was Rather's caper.....as was.......fill in the blanks.

Leni

[Lurkus Maximus]

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

And what if it turns out to NOT be true? Will action be taken against those responsible? Likely not. Seems a bit unsymmetrical to me.

[pookie18]

Rerunning in Today's Toons 5/16/05 along with some similar ones...thanks.

[expatguy]

The Muslims and the Arab street wont be satisfied until we throw one of our own into the volcano.

Instead of fighting among ourselves over this stupid stuff we should just tell the Arabs to go and pound sand.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[AZHua87]

Deliver the CEO, the Editor, and the author to Pakistan?

[NavyCanDo]

I can't remember the line word for word, and I hope my dear Southern Grandparents looking down from above will forgive me for quoting him at all, but it was William T. Sherman who had a great disdain for the press, who said about journalist

"They come to my camps and here rumors, and then go out and report those rumors as fact. I would like to kill them all, but if I did they would be reporting from Hell by Breakfast."

[Valin]

I'll help buy their tickets...first class if that's what they want.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Bonnie. I got a Freepmail suggesting "National Review" as well.

I may call to see how much $$ is left on my subscription and ask for a refund, too. I don't mind kicking Newsweek when they're down for this sort of behavior.

I'm so glad journalists and those that PAY THEM are being held accountable these days. Maybe if we keep up the momentum, the MSM won't directly "install" Hitlery in the White House. Nah. Who am I kidding? ;)

[Lurkus Maximus]

That may be but should we really try to satisfy the Muslim and Arabs on the street? I bet that's a no win situation. I agree with the "pound sand" strategy!! Of course I may agree with the "throw one of our own in the volcano" if the one thrown in is a left leaning nutcase!