My husband is military and you are right federal. The so called media really showed their "we support our troops" mentality at the WH press conference. Trust me on this one, our WONDERFUL military is pissed off. They are tired of this Anti-Americanism they read and see on the media. Imagine, in one day out 3 yrs of fighting for an American cause against terrorism, it goes . Everything you have been working for, sacrificing for goes to HELL because of a rumor? So, hell with those who have died, sacrificed their body parts for *the cause* right? Ask any Marine, Army, Airforce or Navy if it was worth the cost, and they would give you a HELL YEAH! Why? Because they live it, they see it and they fight for it. Ask Newsweak, where is your witness, where is your proof; show me verbal, written or videos of your accusations. Personally, I'd like to see the DOD say F**k off with the media and let our guys and gals do their job. Reporters, the cowards they are, are ONLY looking for the reward for best LIE. They don't care about our military. They are only in it for the best scoop. If they did, then why don't we see the positive things our troops are doing? Their focus is on the terrorist. What the terrorist accomplish, their *feelings*, and their whiny ass complaints of it's America's fault blah blah. I'm sick and tired of our flag being burned, the death to American chats, blah blah. Screw those people. YOU attacked us, now we will finish this job.
Newsweek published a FALSE STORY - no matter what the reason. Frankly, it doesn't matter if it had been true!
It does NOT MATTER whether these lies WERE written in "good faith" or EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT LIES. This story should NEVER, EVER have been written in the main stream press, EVEN IF TRUE!!!
This information OUGHT to have been brought to the attention of the US gov't, and let them handle it QUIETLY. Inflammatory information like this must be dealt with RESPONSIBLY - in that case (as in Abu Garib) the US must discover the facts, punish perpetrators if any, deal with systemic problems if they exist, and only after that is done, (usually) release the embargo on the story to that reporter or organization who brought it to light.
It was prima facie clear that this, like the overblown Abu story (that the military was already investigating and in the process of punishing), had great potential to harm the United States and our allies (Iraq, Afghanistan, and others); to kill people and injure others - and it is certainly clear that our civilian leadership would condemn such activities if they were occuring. The proper course for responsible news organizations is to let them know behind closed doors what might be going and to allow them time to clean it up. In extreme cases, the story ought to be embargoed forever, but typically it should be released after a period of time.
A RESPONSIBLE news organization might even state a "story" was shopped to them that was found to be UNTRUE after investigation by proper authority - Newsweek COULD have done that in this particular case, and done a great service to our country and the world in exposing how misinformation can attempt to be planted in the media. They blew it, and instead CAUSED MURDERS and Mayhem.
This "shopped" story brings more than shame to Newsweek, though - people are DEAD who ought not be dead.
It is time to bring back wartime censorship of the press.
REPEAT: IT IS TIME TO BRING BACK WARTIME CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS.
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Although I despise Newsweek for their ani-American bias I do not subscribe to the nothion that what they did had any real influence on the Muslim world.
They just used this story as one more excuse to act as the animals they are. If not for this 'outrage' they would have found another one to justify their hatered and murder of innocents.
God bless you, your family and your husband for the sacrifice made for this country.