Posted on 05/17/2005 4:34:22 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
With its Alice-in-Wonderland treatment of the Koran flushing story, the Today Show demonstrated this morning that it is capable of making a Bush-bashing silk purse out of a false MSM sow's ear of a story.
Given the universal attention that the false story and Newsweek's retraction have garnered, there was no way that Today, much as it might have liked to, could have ignored the story.
Forced to deal with it, they managed to put its own ugly spin on the matter. Again and again, Today floated the notion that Newsweek retracted the story due to pressure from the Bush administration, and went so far as to suggest the story might be true.
The focus was at least as much on possibly sinister motives at the "White House," as it was on any transgression by Newsweek.
Thus the story was introduced with this question: "Will Newsweek's retraction end the flurry of White House criticism?"
And again: "Did pressure from the White House impact Newsweek's decision to retract the story?"
Matt Lauer stuck to the marching orders in his interview of Dan Klaidman Newsweek DC Bureau Chief.
Lauer: "Did you get pressure from the White House?"
Klaidman flatly denied it: "The only pressure was our own sense of responsibility."
That wasn't good enough for Lauer. He was apparently more willing to believe the enemies of the US than he was the Bush administration or even Newsweek.
Lauer: "There is suspicion in the Muslim world. They say they've heard similar reports from released detainees. Why shouldn't we believe it and think that Newsweek retracted the story only because it was forced to do so by the White House to protect its image?" And just in case anyone missed the MSM message, Lauer sympathetically asked: "Is there piling on by the administration?"
Given that the propagation of a false story led to riots and deaths, you'd think the last thing Today would do would be to air other rumors. Yet incredibly, incredibly!, that's exactly what it devoted virtually the entirety of its next segment to.
NBC reporter Richard Engel reported from Baghdad, and his report consisted of retelling a variety of additional rumors:
1. "There are many rumors in Iraq and across Muslim world that this kind of thing happens regularly."
2. "There are rumors that US Marines while raiding a mosque abused a Koran and spray-painted it."
3. "Another one - during a search of woman, a search dog pulled a Koran out of the woman's handbag and Marines started laughing."
Engel claimed: "People believe this is not a war on terrorism but a war on Islam."
Lauer 'helpfully' filled in the blanks: "You're telling me people in that part of the world expect the worst from the US.?"
Engel somberly observed: "I'm not sure we're winning the battle for hearts and minds. There is still fallout from Abu Ghraib."
And just to pour the last measure of gasoline on the fire, Engel ended with this explosive allegation: "There are rumors women were raped at Abu Ghraib. One women claimed she was raped six times every night."
Just when you thought the MSM couldn't sink any lower . . .
Lauer: "Did you get pressure from the White House?"
Klaidman flatly denied it: "The only pressure was our own sense of responsibility."
But of course we all know Klaidman is lying about this.
/sarcasm
Matt Lauer is lower than dirt. Well actually, he IS dirt.
Just when you thought they could not sink any lower. The worthies at Today will not be happy until the US is chased from Iraq in shame, and will do everything possible to make that happen.
They will not succeed, because our President and our Military are not a bunch of whining, pompous, preening, spineless, finger-in-the-wind jerks. But since that is a succinct description of the idiots at Today, I guess it is understandable if they would have the same opinion of other people.
Yup, somedays it's just not worth slogging through the rest of the cr@p to see what cool shoes Katie has on...
This may explain why the MSM is so full of S--t.
There is no media bias... just DNC propaganda... 24/7.
When are these idiotic DU'er types going to run out of tinfoil? You'd think Soros owned the manufacturing rights for their hats!
Even if the story was true, there is no reason to publish it. The only reason to run a story like this is because:
1. You hate the Military and/or America and want to make it/them look bad.
2. You want the US task in the Middle east to be more difficult.
3. You hate George Bush/Republicans and want to damage him/them.
All of the Above (thee may be more - be sure to add yours to my list).
Newsweek hates America. I don't buy the rag, so I can't quit buying it. All I can do is educate friends and family about the US hating MSM.
We will lose our nation if this is allowed to continue. Someone needs to be made an example of. As you said, the Repubs are not going to do it. If the congresscritters were truly the peoples' representatives, there would be a lot of things done instead of having to watch them waffle on first one thing and then another.
Some here say blame the rioters. Certainly. But they are nothing more than rabid dogs who are being fed by the msm. The question is WHY would the msm keep feeding a mad dog?
"I'm not sure we're winning the battle for hearts and minds.
THE MESOPOTAMIAN
TO BRING ONE MORE IRAQI VOICE OF THE SILENT MAJORITY TO THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD
http://messopotamian.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 22, 2005
How can we thank the Americans?
By Hashim Al-Sudani, anassudani@yahoo.com
Time may be passing and we may forget the calamity in which we were living. And this is what happened to us, we Iraqis. After two years since our delivery from the regime of Saddam the criminal, who was slaughtering us, torturing us and driving us like a herd of cattle to the arenas of his loosing battles, with execution squads behind us; we have forgotten how we used to live in constant terror and how we were afraid to say any word that might lead us to dark torture chambers in the Department of General Security or the Governorate, or the Fifth Branch. And how we have forgotten those who delivered us from the hell in which we were living and from which we did not even dare dream of getting out. Nay, but more than that; we see today Muqtada Al-Sadr and his followers coming out in demonstrations to demand the exit of what they call occupation, and burning images of President Bush; when they were meek and humiliated during Saddam time, not daring to utter a single word. And when Muqtada himself received a sum of money from Mohammed Hamza Al Zubaidi during the funeral reception of his father who was murdered by Saddam and his followers; and there was Muqtada receiving money from the killers of his father !!!!
What prompted me to write about this subject today is watching the film that was shown on the Iraqiya on the anniversary of the fall of Saddam, that showed the cutting of tongues and heads, the breaking of arms and other fearful tortures in the prisons of Saddam the Haddam [the wrecker-translator]. These things would have continued to our present day had the Americans not intervened to depose this savage animal and his criminal Baathist regime.
I asked myself there and then: How can I thank the American liberators who have avenged us and avenged all the victims of Saddams regime? How can I avoid being ungrateful like Muqtada and his followers, who are enjoying now the freedom that America brought while at the same time shouting insults at this same America ? I could find nothing in my possession to thank these liberating soldiers except these words:
Thank you, soldiers of the United States of America and soldiers of her allies. Thank you our true friends. Thanks to all your sacrifices that delivered us from the darkness of Saddam to the light of freedom, elections and democracy.
We shall never ever, forget what you have given us, liberators
That was as literal a translation of the piece as possible. Truly, gratitude is one of the greatest marks of noble souls. And remeber that the piece was written entirely for Iraqi and arab audiences. The writer's name and Email are for all to see.
Regards
# posted by Alaa : 9:41 AM
Yes. You stated what I feel and believe in a more articulate way than I did. I would add GWB and Rebublicans to the list of people they want to harm.
P.S. I think we should hold the Newsweak people accountable, but let's not point fingers in the wrong direction for all the rioting and deaths. Be sure to keep the spotlight on the wrongful, violent behavior of the Muslim world. They handle all problems with violence.
Are you kidding? If the WH HAD tried to pressure Newsweek, THAT would have been the story in all the media!
Frankly, I think Michael Isikoff ought to go on live on Al Jazeera and admit that the story was false. Of course, that won't convince the America haters, but it might help sway some of the not so rabid.
So, what can be done?
Keep speaking the TRUTH to your friends/neighbors...etc.
Something has to be done quick because I'm afraid that the MSM will only get worse, and if allowed to continue their campaign without reprisal we will almost certainly lose this war.
Let them "get worse", the more over the top they get the less influence they'll have with the people...IF you keep speaking the TRUTH. Remember my friend this is not the days when the MSM had a monopoly on the news.
BTW A REALLY good rant! Feel better?
Change a few words,
And again: "Did pressure from the DNC impact Newsweek's decision to run the story eliminating the Hillary - Paul scandal off the top fold?"
"Today show wants more blood..."
Matt Lauer is a bloody piece of $hit. That description, of course, fits most in MSM.
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