Holy Desecrations

Some caller on the radio this morning who claimed to be an ex-soldier said the military rules for handling the Koran are strict: A cleric or at least another Muslim should touch the book. It should be wrapped in a towel to protect it from the dust, etc. Furthermore, he claimed that this policy was actually a way to "break" a suspect. The sight of Americans acting in such a way - demonstrating, physically, a respect for Islam - would often cause jihadist to lose it, and break down. The message in these actions are implicit that despite what they have been told, Islam is truly respected by Americans; it's the bloodthirsty terrorism that is the problem.

Now several of my readers are annoyed: "Some caller on the radio?!" A poor source of "news" right? But can it be worse than reporting from a major newsweekly that resulted in 15 deaths? Many people, sadly, would more comforted by news that the military is always at fault.

The failure is twofold. First, many people in the media have a Nixon-era conception of the military. They seem to live in a Robert Redford movie, where the general never removes his jacket, and the hippies love America more. Nobody should trade one extreme for the other, but how about simple impartiality?

And the second failure is that they can't get out of Washington, either physically or mentally. Reporting consists of leaks from medium level officials at government agencies, many of which - news flash - are bitter because they have been passed over for higher posts. Why couldn't the sources have consisted of a dozen ex-military (like the guy on the call-in radio how) in addition to the disgruntled policy wonks, all checked against each other for consistency?

So fifteen people dead, and calls for Jihad have been renewed around the globe. Newsweek really blew it royally. For all of us.