According to the Foreign Minister’s own link, Newsweek got the story from a government source and then checked the story with the Pentagon, which did not refute the allegations until after the story was published. Based on the fact that the Pentagon last year had to investigate the possiblity that guards at Abu Ghraib (not Guantanamo Bay, granted, but the Foreign Minister seems to be having a little problem with the geography himself) were sticking broomsticks up detainee’s asses, I can understand why the Koran-flushing story sounded credible to Newsweek.

Now the White House wants as retraction from Newsweek, and the conservative blogosphere is all up in arms. Let me remind everyone that we’re talking about an administration that intentionally manipulated intelligence to manufacture an acceptible reason for a pre-determined war. Furthermore, this administration is guilty of consistent and wide-ranging press manipulation that indicates an intentional disregard for open government and political dissent. Did everyone just forget about the credentialing of online male prostitute Jeff Gannon? Or the leaking of Ms. Plame’s CIA identity? The White House wants to hold the moral high ground because the Newsweek story caused riots in Afghanistan? How about a war where the U.S. fatalities total 1,622 and are still rising? If Bush gets a retraction, I want a goddamn impeachment.

Yes, I would like for news organizations to always get the story right. An open, free and accurate press is a cornerstone of representative democracy. But the hypocrisy of this administration and the people who support them — particularly in the conservative blogosphere — is unfuckingbelievable.

Bush: worst president ever.

Believe.