White House Weighs in on Newsweek's "Mistake"

Again, from Reuters:

The White House said on Monday that a Newsweek report based on an anonymous source had damaged the U.S. image overseas by alleging that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay.

..."It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think there's a certain journalistic standard that should be met and in this instance it was not."

...McClellan complained that the story was "based on a single anonymous source who could not personally substantiate the allegation that was made."

"The report has had serious consequences," he said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

Scott McClellan is calling for the adherence to journalistic standards, for responsible reporting.

That's wishful thinking on his part. The MSM is not about to change its stripes.

Think of the many recent instances where journalistic integrity was given a backseat to promoting a specific agenda.

This latest example highlights the fact that not only is the MSM an enemy of the Bush administration; it is willing to incite anti-Americanism without regard for the consequences.

Their years long "anything to hurt Bush" campaign has done irreparable damage to the U.S., caused deaths, and undermined the efforts of our military.

Do they care? Or are they satisfied, "Mission Accomplished"?