s2-
most of the mainstream media are asleep.
they're not asleep... they have all been awakened
and given assignments by the whitehouse. here's the
assignment that was issued to newsweek today:
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Newsweek must do more about Koran case: White House
(May 17,2005)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House called on Newsweek magazine on Tuesday to help repair damage to the U.S. image in the Muslim world by its false report that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Koran.
Newsweek retracted the report on Monday, saying it could not substantiate a May 9 report saying an internal military investigation had uncovered Koran abuse. The report said interrogators at Guantanamo Bay had flushed at least one copy of the Koran in a toilet to try to make detainees talk.
With anti-American sentiment already strong in the Muslim world because of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and ensuing prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, the report sparked violent protests -- from Afghanistan, where 16 were killed and more than 100 injured, to Pakistan, Indonesia and Gaza.
In the past week the reported desecration was condemned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and by the Arab League.
"We appreciate the step that Newsweek took yesterday," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "It was a good first step. And what we would like to see now is for Newsweek to work to help repair the damage that has been done, particularly in the region, and Newsweek certainly has the ability to help undo what damage can be undone."
While offering few specifics, McClellan said Newsweek should explain "what happened and why they got it wrong, particularly to people in the region."
"They can also talk about policies and practices of the United States military. Our United States military goes out of its way to treat the holy Koran with great care and respect," he said.
The U.S. image had already been tarnished in many parts of the Arab world and Washington has sought to rebuild trust among Muslims as violence continues in Iraq and following last year's disclosures that U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners.
Resentment has also simmered among Arabs because of the more than 500 prisoners being held at Guantanamo captured during the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Administration officials admit it is an uphill battle to turn around Muslim public opinion.
story.news.yahoo.com
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Reuters' assignment was to put THIS story out on the wire.
check yer mail scott. you may be getting your assignment
from the whitehouse tomorrow.
-ep
ps- it's not the acts themselves that are so bad...
it's the DISCLOSURE of the acts that causes all the
damn trouble. |
