My moment on the Soapbox

Most of you I'm sure, are aware of Newsweeks's collassal blunder in its printing a story of the US military desecrating the Koran as a form of iterrogation of prisoners in Iraq. The printing of the story, which could not be proved as true, and was told by an unreliable source, resulted in tragic results. A wildfire of rage and retribution followed as enraged militant Muslims took revenge, ruthlessly killing our soldiers. Too late, Newsweek retracted their statement, but it brings little comfort to the families of the murdered soldiers.

It is a sad day when American journalist's take for granted their freedom of speech -- a right that American soldiers give their lives for Americans to have. So when journalists use their freedom of speech to print inflammatory and false alleations against the soldiers who defend them, and suffer no consequences, it does a huge injustice to the men and women serving our country.

Freedom of speech is one thing. Printing something that will cause a riot, or worse, an act of war, is not free speech. Those who incite riots can be prosecuted; so why not journalists who print information that they know -- or should know -- will incite violence?

The fact that they are aware of the increasing violents of the insurgents, and the fact that the insurgents have already used the situation of the Abu Garib prison abuse scandal as an excuse for other attacks, should have made them realize that printing this imformation would be disastrous.

So, the people have a right to know? What people, I ask? Terrorists in a far away country who use our information against us? We are, after all, at war, whether people like it or not. Responsible newspapers would do well to remember that and stop endangering the lives of our soldiers, who by the way, didn't ask to be there.

In my eyes, what Newsweek did was no less than treason; they gave the enemy information which directly put our military in danger. Information, as it turns out, that wasn't even founded.

Worse, it seems, they will get away with it. They offer a full retraction, but nothing else. Nothing will happen to them over this... unless the American people let them know that they won't stand for it.

If you think what they did was wrong, and irrresponsible, then stop buying their magazine. Perhaps if they have consequenses, they will think to be more responsible.

Okay... will get off my soapbox for now...