Saturday, June 4, 2005

Al Jazeera's Spin

Al Jazeera's report on the Quran desecration investigation is possibly less politically biased and inflammatory than the spin the MSM have put on it.

Some reports from U.S. and other Western media outlets have mentioned the finding that there were fifteen cases of Quran desecration by the detainees themselves. Al Jazeera omits that bit of information from their story.

Still, the confirmed incidents see to be depicted quite fairly. The accidental, albeit reckless, nature of some of the cases is clearly presented. Furthermore, it notes that steps were taken to rectify the problems, such as giving a detainee a new uniform and Quran after his were defiled.

To Al Jazeera's credit, its story points out that a guard was reprimanded for inappropriate behavior and no longer given access to prisoners. It also relays that a civilian interrogator apologized to a detainee for stepping on his Quran and was later fired.

As much as the Dems and the Old Media probably would love to have another Abu Ghraib, it appears they aren't going to get it here. Even Al Jazeera presents the findings in a manner highlighting that incidents of Quran desecration are the exception and not the rule at Gitmo.

I hope those at Amnesty International read Al Jazeera's account.

It's clear the U.S. is being respectful of the Quran and allowing the detainees to practice their religion. Does that sort of thing usually occur in gulags? I don't think so.

I wonder if Douglas Wood's captors or Jeffrey Ake's kidnappers have provided them with Bibles. Do you think Nick Berg was given a Bible to read in the days before he was beheaded by the terrorists holding him hostage?

It's all about perspective. Al Jazeera seems to have a somewhat better grasp of the reality and extent of Quran desecration at Gitmo than the wacko fringe American left and some so-called human rights organizations.


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