Flushing Out the Story

Terrible journalism? We shouldn't report what FBI documents say because the detainees might be lying? The Times says in the third paragraph that these are "accounts of unsubstantiated accusations."

We Move to Canada (that ought to provide a hint of their outlook) says "These days, whenever I make brief forays into mainstream media, or when it jumps out at me and I can't avoid it, I see or hear the phrase 'now-retracted Newsweek story,' or 'a story in Newsweek, which has since been retracted'. That's the party line: the story was false, Newsweek retracted it. Even though the story was true, Newsweek wasn't the first to report it by any means, and the retraction was coerced."

Under pressure, sure. But coerced? Did the White House threaten to flush all its copies of Newsweek down the toilet?

Balloon Juice decries "the silly mentality of those attacking the media because Isikoff . . . was right about the allegations but wrong about the exact source, who lied to them. Then, that is used as a bludgeon to in effect attempt to censor the media in what really is just another saga in the age old battle of the right versus the media. It is enough to make a man insane."

Joe Boughner at Megalomedia points the finger at Rummy:

"We're waiting for your apology, Mr. Rumsfeld. So. The FBI has reports dating back to 2002 of allegations of desecration of the Koran by U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay. They were just declassified. Now, who remembers when the Pentagon said there were 'no credible and specific allegations' of Koran desecration? I do! I do!"

On the filibuster front, OpinionJournal's Peggy Noonan accuses the Gang of 14 of "sheer, exuberant egotism":

"John McCain wryly reminded us not to miss A&E's biography of his heroic Vietnam experience. Joe Lieberman referred to the group as 'this band of brothers, and sisters.' But my favorite was Lindsey Graham, who said, 'I know there will be folks "back home" who will be angry, but that's only because they're not as sophisticated and high-minded as I am. Actually they're rather stupid, which is why they're not in the Senate and I am. But I have 3 1/2 years to charm them out of their narrow-minded resentments, and watch me, baby.'

"Oh, excuse me, that's not what he said. That's only what he meant. It was the invisible scroll as he spoke. The CNN identifier that popped up beneath his head as he chattered, however, did say, 'Conceited Nitwit Who Affects "Back Home" Accent to Confuse the Boobs.'

"Oh wait, that's not what it said. It said, 'R-South Carolina.' My bad.

"Actually, what Mr. Graham said was, 'People at home are gonna be mad at me for a while.' He said he decided to support the deal because 'kids are dyin' ' in Iraq, 'Social Security is comin' up,' and 'this is a lot bigger than me.' If only he knew that is true."

The New Republic rips the filibuster deal as smoke and mirrors: