"People lost their lives. People are dead," reacted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to Newsweek's blunder. "People need to be very careful about what they say, just as they need to be careful about what they do." The president's spokesman observed: "This report, which Newsweek has now retracted and said was wrong, has had serious consequences. People did lose their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged; there is lasting damage to our image because of this report." "It's appalling that this story got out there," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opined. "I do think it's done a lot of harm.... 16 people died.... The sad thing was that there was a lot of anger that got stirred by a story that was not very well founded."

So we're all in agreement now: it is important to get the facts straight, particularly when lives are at stake.

Hence the meaning behind "Intellectual Morons?"

Seriously Dan, what does one expect when news is seen as entertainment?

Be well,

Sponge

arrrgghhh! How can you, with a clear conscience, use this unbelievably wrongheaded and biased Newsweek story, (that got people killed) as an opportunity to attack the admin on Iraq?

Doesn't the Newsweek error matter to you? Or does it exist solely as another way to raise your issues with the war?

You should be ashamed of this lousy, misguided piece.

I liked the book BTW. (Intellectual Morons)

DC

DC is in denial that Muslims are the main cause of violence and misery in the world today. Its like so IN to hate America today you know like!

Very clever, but I think the similarities between the two conceals an important difference.

No one would blame Newsweek if they had gone to appropriate lengths to verify the content of the story. They did not. Can the same be said for the Bush administration? I'm of the opinion that it cannot.

Given the nature of intelligence, the agreement between agencies of different governments that Iraq possessed WMD, the assurances provided by senior intelligence officials (e.g., Tenet), the history of the Iraq regime (both in possession and concealment of WMD), etc., etc., I believe the Bush administration exhibited due diligence in verifying its rationale for war. The same cannot be said for Newsweek.

Brilliant post Dan!

Very clever, but I think the similarities between the two conceals an important difference.

No one would blame Newsweek if they had gone to appropriate lengths to verify the content of the story. They did not. Can the same be said for the Bush administration? I'm of the opinion that it cannot.

Given the nature of intelligence, the agreement between agencies of different governments that Iraq possessed WMD, the assurances provided by senior intelligence officials (e.g., Tenet), the history of the Iraq regime (both in possession and concealment of WMD), etc., etc., I believe the Bush administration exhibited due diligence in verifying its rationale for war. The same cannot be said for Newsweek.
Posted by Brad at May 20, 2005 10:28 AM

I agree with you there.