Damn Liberal Media Bias

So, I was checking out the BBC News (where you can go for real unbiased news) earlier in today. There, on the front page is the story that declassified FBI documents claim there were reports that U.S. guards in Guantanamo Bay flushed a copy of the Koran down the toilet. What's that you say? You've already heard this story? Well, yes, you did hear this reported by Newsweek. That was before the Bush Administration backlash that led to a hasty apology and retraction by the magazine. From the BBC story:

After interviewing a detainee, an unnamed FBI agent wrote on 1 August 2002: "Personally, he has nothing against the United States. The guards in the detention facility do not treat him well. Their behaviour is bad.

"About five months ago, the guards beat the detainees. They flushed a Koran in the toilet. [emphasis mine]

"The guards dance around when the detainees are trying to pray. The guards still do these things."

But the Pentagon said last week that it had seen no "credible and specific allegations." I would consider this report to be a pretty specific allegation. Now comes the fun part for the Administration. As driftglass put it in a recent post, Deny, deny, deny: "The Pentagon did not immediately comment on the documents, but officials have said recently that various claims made by former detainees have been proved false." Note the added emphasis on "various claims." This is the FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) defense at its finest. By referencing other claims that have been proved false, the Pentagon has cast doubt on this specific allegation without actually denying it. If the claim is later proven true, an outright denial at this time would be evidence of a lie and malicious intent. This vague statement prevents that.

<sarcasm>But, of course, that damn liberal media bias here in the U.S. is responsible for fabricating this report and making a large news item out of it just to embarrass the Bush Administration.</sarcasm> At this time on CNN.com, a possible return of the Spice Girls is bigger news. That story appears at the top of the home page. The Guantanamo Bay story appears nowhere there. It's near the bottom (under "In Other News") in the politics section.