Newsweek apologizes for getting Koran-Guantanamo Bay story wrong. (The Editor's Desk)

Newsweek ^ | 05/15/05 | The Editor's Desk

[Pikamax]

May 23 issue - Did a report in NEWSWEEK set off a wave of deadly anti-American riots in Afghanistan? That's what numerous news accounts suggested last week as angry Afghans took to the streets to protest reports, linked to us, that U.S. interrogators had desecrated the Qur'an while interrogating Muslim terror suspects. We were as alarmed as anyone to hear of the violence, which left at least 15 Afghans dead and scores injured. But I think it's important for the public to know exactly what we reported, why, and how subsequent events unfolded.

[Pikamax]

Last Friday, a top Pentagon spokesman told us that a review of the probe cited in our story showed that it was never meant to look into charges of Qur'an desecration. The spokesman also said the Pentagon had investigated other desecration charges by detainees and found them "not credible." Our original source later said he couldn't be certain about reading of the alleged Qur'an incident in the report we cited, and said it might have been in other investigative documents or drafts. Top administration officials have promised to continue looking into the charges, and so will we. But 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.

[Miss Marple]

Well, gee, big of them to apologize.

[AppyPappy]

Their shoddy ass journalism got people killed.

[KittyKares]

The apology is a little too late for those who died in the riots.

[NormsRevenge]

Heads need to roll at Newsweek and in the media elites ranks.

Blood is on their collective hands.

[Donald Meaker]

It is important to note that the islamicist bastard tore up the pages of his Koran and flushed them down the toilet, in an attempt to stop it up as a form of troublemaking.

The Afghanistan Jihad should be against the Islamicist bastards, now represented by the Taliban

Of course it is routine for believers to tear out pages of the Koran to use as bandages.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Thanks Newsweak for handing the islamists another weapon. Perhaps you can't rent them a few 757's next time.

[Arkie2]

Shades of Rather. They wante to believe the anti US story so badly they ran it without properly checking it and engendered massive ill will against the country and caused several riots and deaths. Do you think any heads will roll at Newsweak?

[Modok]

An apology is not going to cut it! Newsweek did not spill their tea on the carpet. Newsweek has caused people to be killed and aided and abetted the enemy.

[Dad yer funny]

It sounds like revenue took a hit,no?? Subscribers and advertisers DO hold some sway

[Andy from Beaverton]

This is not news. The press has consistently started to publish incorrect information that damages the Republicans. The only make the corrections long after the damage has been made and can't be repaired.

[Alouette]

Newsweek lied, people died.

[stop_fascism]

Newsweek lied and people died.

[SIDENET]

Heads need to roll at Newsweek and in the media elites ranks.

Blood is on their collective hands.

You're absolutely right.

[savedbygrace]

As apologies go, I give it a 2.5 . . . out of 10.

And most of that score comes from the fact that they didn't say "if we got any of our story wrong," or "if anyone was offended."

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'm sure elements of the MSM everywhere are saying, "Dang, why didn't we think of this?"

[machman]

Newsweek lied and people died.

My first thoughts.....

[CarrotAndStick]

They must be made accountable for their truly severe crime of providing fodder to the Islamowhackos to harvest more suicide bombers. I hope they apologise in such a way that this news hits the idiots in Afghanistan and the other excuses of countries all over the Islamic 'world', and they realise their stupidity atleast now.

[the Real fifi]

I see no apology at all here. What I do see is further proof that they were negligent in running with this story and a hint they will continue on this path--even though they are now responsible for more deaths than occurred at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib combined. Isikoff deserves the most serious shunning.

[jess35]

They extend their sympathies? Their rush to print anything that makes the USA look bad, regardless of whether or not it is true, has caused multiple deaths. Isn't it big of them to be "sorry" about it.