The Newsweek Gaffe

This whole Newsweek issue has really made me laugh not because of what was alleged in the article – but the subsequent hypocrisy by OUR government by saying that it gives our country a bad reputation.

Holy Smokes, Batman – please say it’s not true!! America is getting a black eye from a story that was leaked to a major magazine alleging that members of our military have desecrated the Koran by flushing it down a toilet during an interrogation??

What about going to war under false pretenses??

What about LYING to the people of the United States about WMD??

What about LYING to the leaders of the WORLD about WMD??

What about removing a ruthless dictator because of what we perceived??

What about the countless other civil wars, ethnic cleansings, and other atrocities being committed in other nations, under other ruthless dictators??

Black eye syndrome??

Faulty intelligence??

If the Newsweek article was factually incorrect – then they should issue a correction.. But even as they retracted the story on the basis that they made a mistake – we have an administration that admitted that they too acted on faulty intelligence, flawed information when they sent countless thousands to their graves, and tipped the balance of power in an unstable region..

I’m tired of the Bush rhetoric that Saddam was an evil person who needed to be removed from power.. Yes, I get that.. But let’s not forget that in addition to those countries going under civil wars, we have two “axis of evil” partners that have slid unscathed under our intelligence radars, Mr. President..

North Korea and Iran have become legitimate power brokers under your watch.. Furthermore, let’s not forget that this administration has placed a time bomb in the Middle East in the form of Iraq.. Set aside the insurgents, set aside the security issues and other infra-structure related problems that remain today (some two years after our initial invasion); I’m referring to the elections that were held earlier in the year..

Once again, everyone seems to be forgetting about the winners of the Iraqi election and the purported connections to Iran..

It seems as though the whole “image” issue is the least of our worries….

So if anyone is TRULY interested in improving our image – let’s start at the top and work our way down.. Let’s consider that whenever someone important is captured, they are being interrogated in countries that permit torture – so we don’t have to..

How convenient..

Wash our hands – someone else did the torture, we gained the information.. Remarkable!!

It’s not going to be until everyone wakes up and realizes that the image of the US has been mortally wounded since the invasion of Iraq.. Were we freeing the oppressed people of Iraq, sure.. Were we hunting those pesky WMDs?? Absolutely.. Are the Iraqi people glad we’re still there?? Um, no.. Were any links to Iraq and WMD ever found?? Erm, no, sorry..

Talk about a stain to wear..

So..

Did Newsweek add fuel to the fire?? Perhaps.. Did they do something wrong?? If it was factually incorrect – yes.. If they were fed the information as a means to control what they right about – absolutely not.. I fear the latter is holding more water and truth these days..

When we live in a society where the Administration can pay off media to write to their advantage, we’re dealing with governmental propaganda.. Further, we’re no better off than the former Soviet Union or those that have endured the atrocities under Saddam Hussein.. Propaganda – any propaganda is wrong..

I don’t care if it’s democrat
I don’t care if it’s republican..

There, I said it..

When we diminish the available information into some sort of sick twisted monstrosity – yeah, I’m gonna get a little bent out of shape.. When it’s funded, fueled, and subsequently catered to a segment of the populous: this is when it should be made illegal..

I’m not against free speech..

I’m against distorted news reporting..

I’m for opinions, editorials, and independent thoughts carefully separated from the news stories I read, hear or watch.. If it’s factual, it should be reported without opinion, without bias, without slant, slander, or manipulation.. I don’t care if you’re Air America or Fox News..

It’s got to stop..

Then maybe we can finally make educated decisions of what is best for our place in the world and not be succumbed by the wishes of a selected few.. Again – I have no care if it’s a red or blue issue.. I care about integrity, I care about the truth, and I care about honesty.. Our founding fathers had no intention to somehow approve of such ostentatious behavior by any party..

It’s gotta start somewhere..

If Newsweek got it right – hang in there.. If they were lied to, so as to set them in a trap that would eventually dirty their news – then I really hope those that engineered that project gets what’s coming to them.. If Newsweek reported an outright lie – shut them down..

Fox News?? You’re next..

Fair and balanced really does need to be held to the same standards, don’t they??