Ah, Diplomacy

I forget where I saw this, but recently I came across a citation from Claude Cockburn, father of Andrew, Leslie, Alexander, and Patrick, journalists all.

"Never believe anything until it is officially denied."

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A U.S. military commander defended coalition troops Friday against allegations they defiled the Koran during a raid on a Sunni Muslim mosque in Baghdad...

Mosque leaders invited a CNN crew into the mosque Friday to show what they said American soldiers had done, including a damaged copy of the Koran, a gift to the mosque from former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

"They tore up the book of God," one mosque leader said. "God will tear them up. They trampled the book of God with their feet. They had the pretext of weapons, but they have found no weapons but found the Koran and tore up the Koran."

[Brig. Gen. Mark] Kimmitt said the Army investigated the allegations and found them unfounded.

To be honest, it doesn't matter at this point whether or not the allegations are true. Those who wish to believe them will believe. And it is Iraqis who believe. Iraqis who we desperately need the support of in order to make the occupation work. In other words, this is yet another sign that the ship isn't merely sinking, but has grounded itself pretty badly on a reef.

Meanwhile, even Willie Nelson has had enough--he's got a new song about to come out that condemns the war,
and he's doing fundraisers for Dennis Kucinich. While I doubt the Ohio Congressman will actually get the nomination, this New York Times profile makes it clear that, with the money he's raised, and his frugal ways, Dennis will not flare out right away. Good for him. One day it will be evident that he's been saying the right things all along. He and Al Sharpton are the ONLY candidates who've been outspoken against the war from the beginning.

And, slightly off topic, but the blogosphere has been weighing in on the latest regarding the Valerie Plame scandal: looks like the latest attempt at spin will be "but-is-it-really-wrong-if-we-didn't-EXACTLY-know-how-wrong-it-was?" That will be shopped around the punditsphere for true believers to latch on to--as David Brooks did today on The News Hour. If you happen to make it to their website, don't forget to check this out. Guilty or not, it's pretty shocking:

MARTIN ADLER: This man was found loitering near what was believed to be the mortar launch site.

SOLDIER: Look down! Get down! Sit down! (Speaking Arabic ) ( indistinct conversation )

SOLDIER: Get down! Get down! (Indistinct conversation)

MARTIN ADLER: First Sergeant Mikel can speak Arabic. He can cross the language divide that hampers so many of the missions in Iraq. (Speaking Arabic)

SOLDIER (Translated): Give them your hands!

DETAINEE (Translated): I swear I had nothing to do with it!

SOLDIER (Translated): Give them your hands! If you don't, I swear I will shoot you!

SOLDIER (Translated): I'll take you over there and shoot you in the head!

SOLDIER (Translated): Do you understand me?

MARTIN ADLER: The suspect, bound and hooded, was left in a waste ground for hours before being taken away into detention.

Oh, and one other item that I saw at TalkLeft. Short version: Las Vegas should adopt a new tourism slogan: Las Vegas--What Happens Here, Stays Here--Well, at least until the FBI decides to request the records...