Time: By the way, never mind about that Rumsfeld war-crimes suit
posted at 3:45 pm on November 16, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Remember last Friday? Their EXCLUSIVE that wasn’t an exclusive about Rumsfeld being sued in Germany over Abu Ghraib? Big news in the afternoon…
…and even bigger news by late afternoon — as big as Drudge could make it…
…finally settling in the early evening on the multi-teaser/ital headline/glum photo triple whammy.
Remember? Yeah, well, you can forget about it now. Because it’s within the discretion of German prosecutors to pursue it or not, the odds that anyone’s going to be charged are slim and none. Which even an idiot like me recognized instantly. So why wasn’t that fact emphasized in Time’s original story?
Because, silly: you can’t own the news cycle, even for a day, if your big scoop is self-deflating. Better to wait a week until no one’s looking and you’ve already gotten your Drudge splash.
Just a little vignette about how the media operates. Do with it what you will.
Update: In semi-defense of Time, the story might never have risen to such prominence if Drudge had read it more carefully before posting. They were pitching it as a big scoop, clearly, but the article did explain — albeit a ways down the page — that criminal charges wouldn’t necessarily be filed. Drudge didn’t grasp that fact initially; compare the headline in the first two screencaps to the one in the third. It may be that he didn’t realize until he had already splashed it that it wasn’t as big of a story as he thought and he felt compelled to stick with it at the top of the page for awhile. It got bumped later that evening for news about McCain’s presidential maneuverings, so maybe that was his way of quietly backing off.
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good!
bloggless on November 16, 2006 at 3:54 PM
Ze Germans indcting other people for war crimes: you gotta admit, that IS funny……ironic…..what’s the right word?
hypocritical?
This is what happens when your political culture is based primarily on guilt and tardy remorse.
Janos Hunyadi on November 16, 2006 at 4:04 PM
A periodical using sensational headlines to sell issues? How… unsurprising. Who’s going to be the first to spin this as a liberal media conspiracy? Step right up.
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 4:06 PM
And appeasement. Don’t forget appeasement.
Lest we forget that Hamburg was where the original planning for 9/11 occurred.
natesnake on November 16, 2006 at 4:08 PM
It was more than a sensational headline, though, no? Read the original article. They go out of their way to bury and minimize the angle they’re playing up today.
Allahpundit on November 16, 2006 at 4:09 PM
Oh and I forgot.
I QUESTION THE TIMING!
OK, now I’m done.
natesnake on November 16, 2006 at 4:10 PM
I suspect you are correct, otherwise this would have more traction in the mainstream-absolutely-100%-un-liberal-biased media.
natesnake on November 16, 2006 at 4:15 PM
And people wonder why people have such a low opinion of the media. Though I agree this always sounded a bit far fetched.
honora on November 16, 2006 at 4:15 PM
In fact, I skipped right over the other Drudge headlines and went straight to the “Man Has Sex With Dead Deer” story.
Priorities.
DON’T JUDGE ME!
natesnake on November 16, 2006 at 4:17 PM
True. But you couldn’t really expect them to then give their readers an article that says essentially “well, maybe”.
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 4:21 PM
For some reason I was under the impression media types from their various outlets emailed Drudge that a biggie was coming down the pike, in order to ensure they get credit for the exclusive?
Don’t “in defense” of Time to quickly, they most likely hyped it conveniently unhyping the scoop disqualifying caveats.
Topsecretk9 on November 16, 2006 at 4:32 PM
Never paid attention to the Times or Drudge on this. Neither did Mr. Rumsfeld, I’m pretty sure. He’s blessed by ‘fabulous’ adversaries.
However,
made me smile. I love self-deprecating people. Sometimes I picture you sitting there, chuckling about your own short and rich creations. What a dude you are! Take it to the unusual compliments bank because I’m no good at “oh, AP, you are so great/wonderful”.
Entelechy on November 16, 2006 at 4:34 PM
Didn’t Richard Jeni use this as a joke already?
PinkyBigglesworth on November 16, 2006 at 4:36 PM
Connie’s Here! Honnie’s Here! Grebbie, tap, tap, you out there Grebbie?
RushBaby on November 16, 2006 at 4:39 PM
…the Germans have decided not to pursue charges for war crimes on Mr. Rumsfeld.
…in related news, the English have elected to ignore charges that Mr. Rumsfeld drank warm beer.
The French have decided not to charge him with having B.O.
The Poles have dismissed charges against him claiming that he strung too many consonants together in his words making them unpronouncable
The Italians have decided to forego charges against him that claimed he talked too much with his hands and said “Hey, Tony!” a lot.
…and the Belgians have dropped all charges against Mr. Rumsfeld for being irrelevant.
The Irish, on the other hand, will go forward with their suit which says that Mr. Rumsfeld drinks too much.
In other news, several groups of attornies in the Balkans are considering action. There is some hesitation on their part, however, as they aren’t sure which country they’re in, and their potential juries keep killing eachother.
The Scandinavians watching all of this, sitting around in very cool furniture, laughing their a$$es off.
The jihadis in the various European capitals cannot be reached for comment, as they are out burning cars.
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 4:43 PM
…Da Greebster’s at home, sitting on the floor, singing sad songs about the deaths of Murthas. Either that, or he’s been redeployed to Okinawa.
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 4:46 PM
So we got ourselves a quorum.
Now what?
;^)
honora on November 16, 2006 at 4:52 PM
The lovely and gracious honora has arrived.
bloggless on November 16, 2006 at 4:58 PM
Shucks……was hoping for film at 11 when Rummy reminded Dresden just what war is all about.
Limerick on November 16, 2006 at 5:00 PM
Clarification, please: are you guys happy Murtha didn’t get tapped because he’d do a poor job, or sad that he’s out because you perceived him as an easy target? Mixed feelings?
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 5:04 PM
Puritan1648, you are a very bad man, a very very bad man
( another Seinfeld reference )
Yes, natesnake, I left out appeasement ( and some other things ) but I wanted to stay focused on that whole Nazi thing. Ze Germans deserve a lot of credit for absorbing the former DDR without Drastic Stuff happening, but otherwise they’ve spent the past sixty years side-stepping the past while getting rich
honora, really, you need to get……well, you know….
get help
Janos Hunyadi on November 16, 2006 at 5:06 PM
Sorry but the real headline — from the very start — should have read:
American Activists Pursue Rumsfeld in German Court. Again.
The German claim to universal jurisdiction, and the unlikelihood of actual prosecution are all backstory.
JM Hanes on November 16, 2006 at 5:08 PM
Connie thinks the dems are standing on the Milvian bridge when they’re actually preparing to march onto the field at Adrianople.
jaleach on November 16, 2006 at 5:12 PM
…clarification? Well, until you got here, everybody was pretty peppy. We were dancing, Isadora Duncan-like, our long diaphanous scarves in the lilting behind us in the crisp air…and not a Bugatti roadster in sight.
Then you arrived, and the we felt less like dancing. You ever have that happen when you go to *other* places?
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 5:13 PM
…damnation…actual literate Latinate sub-references….
(hitches up belt)
…they might be thought of as standing on the Milvian Bridge…shoulder to shoulder with Maxentius…*creeeeeeeeeeak*….
…comes from partying too much with Elagabalus…there was a happenin’ guy…an icon of the modern Left.
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 5:19 PM
Praise Allah.
Griz on November 16, 2006 at 5:20 PM
Janos Hunyadi (I’m curious if you speak Hungarian), we like honora on this board. She’s a left-leaning independent, intelligent, witty and mostly very reasonable. For my part, I miss her when she doesn’t post. Occasionally she gets into one of those swirls (like the ones in waters or storms) but then she untagles herself :) Loving zing, honora, nothing more. Btw, I’m a right-leaning independent.
That was funny Puritan, and sad – good synopsis. On the Scandinavians I’d say, however, that they’d be sitting around in their naked arses in saunas, then rolling them in snow, then running back to the saunas, while socialism takes care of every whim, for so long as a few still pay. After that? Eh, who cares? If they don’t why should we?
Entelechy on November 16, 2006 at 5:26 PM
Whoa.
That comment’s so gay, Rick Santorum’s going to introduce an amendment banning it.
No offense, of course.
Enrique on November 16, 2006 at 5:28 PM
Anyone else notice the irony of Germany – a country responsible for two World Wars and a genocide in the past century – prosecuting anyone for war crimes? Especially when the “crimes” consist of chilly rooms and underwear on the head – although the last Chili Peppers record was torturous to listen to. Heaven forbid if Rummy was charged with, oh, I dunno….blowing up mosques and police stations and….
Def Ref on November 16, 2006 at 5:37 PM
How very neoconservative of you, Puritan, to shrug off responsibility for breaking your own neck through your own carelessness.
Nice dance moves, though.
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 5:38 PM
Enrique, you sick-o. We’re talking about short sentences. Gutter-minded dude. that. you. are :)
FYI, I’m a female, contrary to board assumptions and numerous attempts at clarifying that I’m not a man. I just happen to be interested in most topics guys love: politics, economy, ships, planes, subs, wars, investments, history, discoveries, and geo-everything. I don’t care much about micro-stuff, watching sports and women-chatter-topics.
Entelechy on November 16, 2006 at 5:45 PM
…I was thinking along those lines…Finns in the “SOW-na”…but I was aiming at a one-liner.
That, and the thought of a fat, sweatty Swedish socialist running jack-nekkid between the SOW-na and a handy hole in the snow as a metaphor for socialist paternalism was…well…icky….
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 5:54 PM
…what part of “no Bugatti roadster in sight” didn’t you get?
Stay seated until the car comes to a complete stop and the nice man lifts the bar….
…and I’m not a “neo-” anything. My birth certificate was written out in long hand with a grey goose quill…on vellum….
*hip-wiggle*
*arabesque*
*grande jete’*
*lands on cat*
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 6:03 PM
…now are you on scratching and farting? Very male things, scratching and farting.
My wife is very female on those activities, bless her. That is unfortunate, as the older I get, the better I get at them, and the less I do other things.
I can’t imagine how thing’s’d be at home if a…er…competition…er…broke out….
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 6:08 PM
You made me LOL! A Hot Air first.
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 6:12 PM
Competition is fun! Even got my 93 year old aunt to participate once!
RushBaby on November 16, 2006 at 6:19 PM
…and, you *GOT THE JOKE*!
…a Lib/Dem who actually gets the joke! *ANOTHER* HotAir first!
…nearly knocked me off my chair…onto the other cat.
Dems aren’t supposed to have senses of humor. The world’s so threatening, after all. There’s racism and poverty and hunger and the designated hitter rule and Republicans under every stone in the garden….
(*grabs package**adjusts*)
(loudly)”…and in case any of you other guys were wondering, I didn’t know what a ‘grande-jet’e’ was…had to look it up!”
(*spits*)
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 6:31 PM
…seriously…we all seem to want what’s best for the country. We’re at war, and should be mad at the guys who want to kill us, don’cha think?
You might not like the war, how I think, the solutions I propose, and I may disagree with you…but, the name-calling, honesty- and intelligence- questioning, and the sheer vitriol with which *ANY* conversation must proceed nowadays is rather tiring and, no matter what’s discussed, unproductive.
For that reason, I like to poke fun at all of this. In the Army, you made the worst, basest, most scatological fun of the folks…well…usually the folks you liked the best, but it also worked for the folks you didn’t like, as well.
…watch the news…if you don’t laugh it’ll break your heart.
*sniff*
…commie….
*sniff*
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 6:38 PM
Really? Why not?
BacaDog on November 16, 2006 at 6:43 PM
Puritan, I said I’m a female who likes similar topics to some of yours; I didn’t say I was a male.
You’re very witty generally and I appreciate your lines, but I think your wife fed you one spoon too much/many of whatever today. No harm meant.
Entelechy on November 16, 2006 at 6:51 PM
Aw c’mon! I coined the phrase Allah Snackbar! Remember?
Constantine on November 16, 2006 at 7:01 PM
The headline and tone of the story was nothing but anti-establishment Propaganda! Time magazine has been a real news magazine in decades. I just can’t remember when Mad Magazine purchased them…
Zorro on November 16, 2006 at 7:09 PM
correction, change has to hasn’t.
Zorro on November 16, 2006 at 7:11 PM
In deference to Entelechy, who speaks as “we” for all souls on this blog, I withdraw my inference(s) regarding honora
I must have seen her in a Bad Swirl, and counseled her to seek….help
Igen, Entelechy
Igen, kedves, ÉN beszél Magyar
Janos Hunyadi on November 16, 2006 at 7:13 PM
Puritan1648, Ön egy igazi rossz ember
Janos Hunyadi on November 16, 2006 at 7:19 PM
Sorry Rummy, for what passes for wit through the gut of
this forum.
Good luck and God bless, hope your boss in your next life has some brass ones.
lizzee on November 16, 2006 at 8:24 PM
Janos Hunyadi, nem kérdezek beszél magyar. But my grandmother did speak it (I only know a few words and do a lot of Hungarian cooking :) She grew up in the Austria-Hungarian Transylvania, where I was also born.
On the honora statement, I don’t speak for all, never, ever, on the thread and should have clarified that – hurry gets us in trouble. It was meant to be a more general ‘we’. However, the statement is overall still true, from my view.
lizzee, no harm was meant and for myself, I admire Mr. Rumsfeld greatly and think he deserves better in his retirement than this. He has accomplished much in his life and doesn’t suffer fools lightly. For that alone I admire him. Politics is very Machiavellian. I don’t give 2 cents on the Times article or the German case and the bla-bla which surrounds it.
Entelechy on November 16, 2006 at 9:38 PM
…vive la difference!
…and, no offense taken…hopefully none given earlier….
…if you could see my waistline, you’d see that I don’t wait for my wife to spoon it into me….
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 10:48 PM
…you know…if they succeed in reestablishing the Caliphate, and *EVER* get over here, there’re some people gonna be gettin’ that “Baghdad Haircut” for some of the Allah Snackbars they’ve been throwin’ down….
…on the subject of the Caliphate coming:
Heinze, German officer: “Can you imagine us in London?”
Rick: “When you get there, ask me.”
Captain Renault: “Ho, the diplomatist!”
Major Strasser: “How about New York?”
Rick: “Well, there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.”
Puritan1648 on November 16, 2006 at 10:56 PM
…and for all I know, you could be saying “Your hovercraft is full of eels.” I think well of you, and will, should no translation come, believe that this bit is friendly….
Puritan1648 on November 17, 2006 at 12:01 AM
Puritan1648, until Janos translates for you more exactly, he’s telling you that you are the good guy and the other isn’t.
Entelechy on November 17, 2006 at 12:09 AM
It says, ” You are a very, very bad man”
You should watch Seinfeld in Magyar sometime: many, many nuances….
Your comment on the Katrina post was maybe the best comment I’ve ever read on any blog, and that Is Saying Something, Man
Janos Hunyadi on November 17, 2006 at 12:14 AM
…thank you for clarifying that bit…I’ll have to rush right out and get me some Hungarian “Seinfeld”…right after I get me some Mongolian “Three’s Company”…and that Cantonese “Blossom” I’ve been hankerin’ after….
…and, after the last election, with Dems blathering non-stop for months, if I ever meet a “nuance” on the street, I’m gonna bend it over sharply, reach up it’s cat-flap, grab it by the tongue, and turn it inside-out like a sock…the hard way….
Puritan1648 on November 17, 2006 at 12:23 AM
Entelechy,
Nekem van olvas valamivel több -ból írás -ból nő már van nekünk mondott -ból , és ő nem látszik -hoz lenni értelmes
Janos Hunyadi on November 17, 2006 at 12:24 AM
Entelechy: hi girl. What are you doing for the holiday?
honora on November 17, 2006 at 10:10 AM
honora, if you mean the Thanksgiving one, I’m invited to the Canyon Lake resort and homes for a traditional turkey dinner. Aside from that I’ll be around the house and in town.
For the winter holidays I’ll have 2 weeks off and will spend at home in San Diego. I bake lots of cookies from all over the world…
If you’re ever here, ask AP for my e-mail address and we’ll get together. My ‘charming’ personality will pull you a bit to the right :) Just kidding. I actually have never tried to convince anyone politically or atherwise. To each’s own.
I hope Rummy would approve.
Entelechy on November 17, 2006 at 12:21 PM
s/b “…or otherwise”, of course…
Entelechy on November 17, 2006 at 12:24 PM
“Now, aren’t you glad we didn’t go closing our military bases in Germany over this?” – Michelle Malkin
Uhm.. it’s been 60 years! It’s time we finally pulled our troops out of Germany and Japan! I mean, they’ve been there 10 times longer than the troops have been in Iraq! And what about the troops in Korea? If the Germans, Japanese and Koreans can’t stand on their own by now, they never will!
Pull our troops out of Germany and “redeploy” them in Iraq. Same for Korea. Same for Kosovo.
(tongue firmly in cheek, except for the last comment, which is a sincere prayer.)
Hiraghm on November 19, 2006 at 4:13 PM
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