corrente

A non-denial denial

Investigators have found no evidence that any guards or interrogators at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ever flushed a Koran down a toilet, although officials have substantiated five cases in which the Muslim holy book was mishandled, the general in charge of the facility said today.

Brig. Gen. Jay Hood declined to provide details about these five cases, saying only that the incidents "could be broadly defined as mishandling."

But he was emphatic about the allegation that touched off violent protests in several Muslim countries and prompted Newsweek magazine to retract a controversial report.

And now comes the artful wording:

"I'd like you to know that we have found no credible evidence...

So, there was evidence?

that a member of the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay...

What about interrogators from "other agencies"? Or civilian contractors?

ever flushed a Koran down a toilet..."

Well, have you ever tried to flush a book down a toilet? I tried to flush my copy of The Purpose Driven Life just the other day, and it jams.

But putting a book into the toilet bowl, now, that's easy! Which I notice General Hood isn't denying at all...

Hood told reporters in a news conference at the Pentagon late this afternoon.

Hood said his review, which is not yet complete, did find 13 incidents in which prisoners alleged mishandling of the Koran by personnel at the prison. Ten were by guards and three by interrogators.
(via WaPo)

Well, I'm sure the review, when completed, will... Oh, forget it.

Suffice to say that the regulations got changed. And where there's smoke....