Sure the ignorant are easily led astray, but NewsWeek owes some very straight answers here. And after we get them it's looking like an apology to the American people is in order right before Newsweek fires the reporter and the editor.
Posted on 05/15/2005 3:54:06 PM PDT by 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.
"'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."
Yeah. Right....that's why our Military Chaplains are actually trained in "religions" such as the Wiccan "religion." That's why it's against military regulations to prevent anyone from enlisting, or boot someone out based upon their religious beliefs. What a load. *Rolleyes*
I've been reading Newsweek for many years. My subscription ends when this one runs out. Bias is one thing; totally irresponsibility that costs people their lives is quite another.
Anyone have suggestions for an even remotely balanced News Magazine for me as a replacement? Thanks. :)
I for one would like to know who was the confidential source, a lib set up?
..and Islam doesn't respect Christians and Jews. They kill because we are not Muuuslims.
What freakin' hypocrisy.
Sure the ignorant are easily led astray, but NewsWeek owes some very straight answers here. And after we get them it's looking like an apology to the American people is in order right before Newsweek fires the reporter and the editor.
Ditto.
THIS is "ACLU-esque". It's also just proves how the International Left (i.e. Amnesty International etc...) is aligned with the OTHER haters of America. How fitting he calls on them.
I care...
because innocent people died
because a loved one is currently serving
because they incited a riot with no justifiable cause
because I am an American and 'bad press' like this jeopardizes my Freedom of Speech
Helping muslims would seem to be a good way to get a sharp stick poked in your eye.
#3..Our family agrees with you!
We expect you and the authors' resignations in the morning. In this case the Free Press isn't Free!
Pray for W and Our Troops
They don't even get to the fact that Newsweek admitted that the story is not accurate until the 8th paragraph.
Newsweek did this with malice and intent to harm the president and our troops.
We regret but Bush lied.
We were wrong but Bush lied.
After all we could have got all of it wrong but Bush lied.
What's all this talk about a bunch of Muslim prisoners flushing corn down the toilet?? Don't they serve corn for lunch in that jail? Koran? What's that? It's like a holy book? Ohh, well that's different. NEVERMIND!
I demand they hand over anyone who ever dissed the bible or we will nuke em.
Absolutely. There should be no hesitation on whitaker's part.
Last I checked this isn't you're country a$$&(^e.
And given the chance I would personally urinate on the Koran.
Sue me~!
LOL..
Well said. Well said , indeed. ;-)
NewsLite........
NewsWeak........
NewsNoWay.......
NewsNever.......
I'm getting really tired of the LSM and their pathetic, repeated attempts to smear this Administration.
Somebody needs to hold someone's feet to fire to get the real truth out if this one.
LVM
I'd actually call and cancel it! I did that with Time Magazine during the 2000 campaign and told them it was all about their bias. The woman who took the call agreed, I wonder if she kept her job?! U.S. News and World Report seems a bit better.
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