The big question running through many circles the past several weeks is whether or not American military/intelligence personnel gave the Koran the mother of all swirlies. Having absolutely given up any hope of the Bush administration or its underlings showing any signs of decency or exhibiting any indication that they are redeemable, my first thought when this story broke was, "Of course...they stack naked Iraqi men five high. What would stop them from doing this?"
So, it was no real shock to learn that the Pentagon finally admitted that five instances occurred in which the Koran was desecrated...They still deny someone ever flushed it...but it's been recounted in an FBI memo, circulated through numerous newspapers for a solid year and obviously they will not admit what the Glorius Leader has denied.
Perhaps what is most distressing is that I learned of this story through
The Independent UK. No, the good old American press has pretty much given up the ghost with regards to credibility and integrity. Maybe Bill Moyers can be convinced to start his own news channel...eh, Bill?
Sadly, in such stressing times for American democracy and global stability, we are left with the likes of Judy Woodruff and Anderson Cooper, the baboons over at Fox and the puddles of mindless, shapeless goo that pass for network news reporters. I have always been partial to Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw, but they belong to another generation of journalism. At least they came of age in the shadows of the Kronkites and Murrows...or David Brinkley...that dry, miserable old bastard!
Personally, I'd take Newsweek out for a solid round of flogging for caving in with such a hasty and completely kiss-ass retraction...Please Mr. Bush, may I have another? I'm certain that the Founders, especially Ben Franklin, imagined a Press that quivered before people of narrow vision and limited compassion such as those who fill-out the roster for Team Bush.
I'm keeping this brief in case this is already old news. The hours I function either put me a day ahead or a day behind, depending on how you want to look at it...and in this day and age, sometimes it's not so bad to catch up on the terrible, rotten rumblings of the World several days after the fact.