Newsweek: America is dead (U.S. Flag Shown in Trashcan on Cover!)

Riding Sun Blog ^ | 5/23/2005 01:17:00 | GaijinBiker

[FreedomCalls]

Newsweek's false, retracted story about American guards flushing the Koran down a toilet at Guantanamo doesn't necessarily mean the magazine's staff hates America or Bush, or wants us to lose in Iraq. To be charitable, let's just chalk that one up to sloppy journalism.

But I'm at a loss to explain this, from the February 2 issue of Newsweek's Japanese edition:

As you can see, the cover story shows an American flag, dirtied and tossed in a trash can, its staff snapped in two. The large white text reads, "Amerika ga shinda hi", which translates to "The day America died."

The equivalent international edition of Newsweek, the January 31 issue, featured a picture of Bush on the cover, with the caption "America Leads ...But is Anyone Following?":

Both of the above editions featured a cover-story article by Andrew Moravcsik, titled "Dream on, America". (This was translated into Japanese as "Yume no kuni Amerika ga kuchihateru toki", which is even harsher; it means, roughly, "America, the dream country, is rotting away".) According to Newsweek itself, the article described "the world's rejection of the American way of life."

Moravcsik's article did not run in the American edition of that same issue. The cover was also a bit different. It featured Hilary Swank, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx, with the title "Oscar Confidential:

If you look carefully, you'll see that one of the articles from the other two editions is mentioned in a small blurb at the top: Fareed Zakaria's "High Hopes, Hard Facts" — here billed as "A reality check on Bush & 'Freedom'". Sure, they put scare quotes around "Freedom", but pretty tame stuff, all things considered.

It's one thing for Newsweek to actively promote the notion that America is a "dead", "rotting" country overseas. But it's quite another thing indeed to hide those efforts from its American readers. If Newsweek really thinks America is dead, and our flag belongs in the trash, why won't it tell us?

If I were to offer Newsweek a suggestion, it would be this: Any story or cover you're ashamed to run in America probably shouldn't be used in other countries, either.

Source

[onyx]

OMGoodness. You think the Brits have been hard on PM Blair and our media have caved to President Bush? LOL!

Now, "look inward" -- our press has challenged POTUS all along, despite the fact that everyone knows Bush and Blair were given faulty intelligence.

Paul, I fear you are swallowing the democrat line. They were privy to the same intelligence, but it's damned difficult to find one who will acknowledge it now!

[RaceBannon]

New NEWSWEEK Scandal!!

MUST READ!

[paul_fromatlanta]

You quote Orwell, Jefferson and Churchill but get upset at the suggestion that look at the tactics we have used and see if they were flawed and should do something differently in the future?

Those are all men who looked at what had been done before by our leaders, found fault and demanded change.

[wagglebee]

This is beneath contempt, even for the media. I am disgusted.

[paul_fromatlanta]

>>OMGoodness. You think the Brits have been hard on PM Blair and our media have caved to President Bush? LOL! <<

If I said that I sure didn't mean to...

I was speaking of a couple of posters in this thread, not the media. I apologize if I was unclear.

[onyx]

Thanks for the clarification.

Look, I have no problem with healthy debate or introspection, or corrective criticism. Of course mistakes have been made. Mistakes are made in every war and military conflict.

This is a wholly different type of enemy. You know that.
I wish we were fighting uniformed enemies, but we're not.
Therefore, I refuse to engage in wholesale criticism of Bush's decisions, and I give him a pass on secrecy, because secrecy is the mandate.

[NonValueAdded]

because of a serious mistake

Whaaaaaaat?

[GOPJ]

I'm surprised they didn't put it in a toilet.

The "hate America" types aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. If they learn a flag in the toilet is more insulting to conservatives than one in a trash can, it'll be the next cover... Best not to give them ideas.

[Toskrin]

You know, I've heard this "squandered sympathy" garbage over and over. It's a Democrat talking point now. The War on Terror has nothing to do with keeping other countries feeling sorry for us. It has to do with prosecuting a war.

Whenever a powerful country makes war with a less powerful country, the losers of the world will always assume the big country is at fault - no matter what the circumstances. That's what a loser, underdog attitude is about. I've got no interest in pandering to that.

[Stellar Dendrite]

LOL...take a look at paul, he is doing anything he can to distract from his past words. Pretty pathetic, isn't it?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1408214/posts?page=80#80

[beandog]

Thought you might enjoy this thread. Looks like other people are finally coming to the same conclusion as you did. When you're right you're right. :)

[baseballmom]

I've read, here, that cnn and others trash us relentlessly in their foreign broadcasts. It's all psyops.

It's true. Anyone who has taken a leisurely cruise, or traveled abroad can attest to this. CNN International is the most rabid anti-American broadcast on air.

The reason "they hate us" is because the American press (AINO) prints and broadcasts the most vile crap to the rest of the world.

And let's not forget the Hollywood version of America. Most Americans are gun toting, promiscuous, lying, cheating, stealing, unfaithful, warmongering, right wing Christian nuts, who like to dance naked and make whoopee with anything in pants, (or skirts). Yep, that's the worldview of America, as seen through the eyes of Americans, on display for the world to see. Sheessh, I would hate us too!! LOL

[You Dirty Rats]

This is an outrage! How can they do this yet claim to be apologetic for the Koran desecration story?

What else should we expect from al-Newsweek?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

The liberal newsmedia doesn't even try to hide their contempt for this country anymore. Ever since the sixties their hatred for it has only gotten worse.

[paul_fromatlanta]

Don't want to go too far off topic....

But since you bought it up - there are certainly posts I regret but not any of the ones you posted.

My opinion of the that senate hearing did change later in that thread but I am not ashamed to have my opinion changed as a result of rational discussion with smart people....

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Have I mentioned that Newsweek sucks?!?!

[onyx]

I'm not cutting out for the night, but I need an hour's break.

I've got a nutcase on another thread who's about to drive me to drink, and I'm pretty certain, "drink" is responsibile for his off the wall postings...lol. Might as well join him. :)

[Toskrin]

War is hard, Paul. It's the hardest thing of all. It never goes according to plan. I for one am happy that we are as far along as we are. Saddam could have counterattacked while we were still in Kuwait. He could have pulled Israel into it. You will never know about the million other disasters that could have happened, but didn't.

The post war occupation has been tough. But it is becoming clear that al Qaeda is behind the terrorism in Iraq. And they are expending a lot of their scarce military and financial resources to fight there. We are going to have to fight them one way or another, and it seems like this may be the most advantageous location for us to do so.

Americans may not have a perfect understanding of the rest of the world, but it's a whole lot better than the one they have of us.

[paul_fromatlanta]

Whenever a powerful country makes war with a less powerful country, the losers of the world will always assume the big country is at fault - no matter what the circumstances. That's what a loser, underdog attitude is about. I've got no interest in pandering to that.

That is a valid point - you're right that we probably would have taken a hit after Afghanistan just by virtue of fighting that conflict so effectively.

[Matchett-PI]

"We need to look inward. ...we need to look at what we may have done wrong .. the UN didn't support that invasion. That was a serious error."

Isn't that special.

I checked your profile page newby. Wasn't surprised when I saw your picture.