© the eyeranian

U.S. Officials never make mistakes and correct them. They only lie.

Maybe they were lying, or maybe these things are just difficult to figure out. Those of us who live in plush conditions in civilized countries have a tendency to underestimate the amount of uncertainty and confusion in a place like Iraq today. Dont get me wrong, I generally distrust government on everything from policy to economic statistics, but still admit that sometimes you have to cut people some slack.

How do you make a "mistake" by claiming you have found documents on the dead bodies that shows their identity?? You either lied about it or actually found something. Which is it?

...then there's the possibility that the attackers carried false documents to hide their identities should they be killed, or in an attempt to call radicals from those nations to their side. Yeah, governments are full of liars, but don't overestimate their audacity (read stupidity). But don't underestimate it either.

There is a saying in the military. "We did not lie, the truth changed." They changed the truth when it became obvious that the prior information was in error. I can believe there is confusion in Iraq right now. I am at loss to find the lie here.

I am at a loss as to the lie myself. If you say one thing, later correct it base on additional information, how would that be a lie? A lie would be if they did NOT correct the original statement even after having the corrected information.
Why always go after the US government in these cases, let's just say the terrorists are not the most honest group and have their own political agendas and are not above a lie to further their political agenda or to use fake IDs to hide their identities. I would not rule out the press as liers either. Having served in the US military in the Middle East (Iraq included), I have seen things happen with my own eyes but when reported on the news the opposite is given.

Sheesh... I work in an office with about 80 people and we can't even get a "word of mouth" story straight from one end of the building to the other. Take that simple piece of human nature, add people shooting at you and add the press corp looking to publish a story - ANY story. It's understandable that initial reports should never be taken as fact until someone with half a brain sorts it out. Always wait for Version 2.0.

Here's the story: The police station in Fallujah is attacked by Guerillas opposing the invasion of Iraq and many are killed and/or injured.

Comment: Yes. Indeed. A story.

Here's the lie: "Documents found on the four dead attackers indicated that two were Lebanese and that one was Iranian, the Americans said."

Comment on: “Here’s the lie:” A self serving assumption. You want a “lie” so you see a lie.

Here's the tiny retraction on the lie: "U.S. officials confirm that recent attacks on an Iraqi police station and a civil defense compound in Fallujah were carried out by Iraqi gunmen -- not foreign operatives".

Comment on: ”Here’s the tiny retraction on the lie:” Plainly, calling an honest attempt to correct inaccurate information a “tiny retraction” is being willful inaccurate, i.e., lying. (Did you learn this method from your local spin doctors?) What is the basis of your ASSUMPTION that this is a lie to begin with? Were you there? Did you duck the bullets? Did you see the documents? Are you a wannabe American liberal ?

I didn't know that terrorists carry their ID with themselves whenever they do an operation...Very intelligent act as a terrorist... Very much believable!

good heavens.....u actually ran me off the wall....will u check my weblog at www.saeedirani.persianblog.com .i used to live in USA for 15 years.now i am back in iran,witnessing the miserable life of a nation.when will it end?i frankly dont know.but whenever that will be D DAY.

as long as there was a retraction, no harm is done. It's true that there is a lot of chaos in Iraq and any of these sudden attacks can cause rumours to spread. Whats important is that news coporations bring us valid and up todate news from accurate sources. easier said than done if u ask me.

Re-Read the whole NPR report;
Remember in this case the US military had pulled out of the town at the request of the local (IRAQI) authorities. Right after that somebody, reported in other places likely locals in collaboration with the mayor, attacks the police station to free folks in the jail. Folks who are reportedly Al Queda. The source of the original report on identification papers found on the dead attackers would be the key to understanding this and might be worth investigating. In other words was it the US, or the IRAQI Police or Civil Government who made the initial report? Clearly it is the US doing the correcting (assuming NPR is believable, and the normally scrupulous New York Times isn't verifying it.)
TRY THIS QUESTION;
If I were the head of the local Iraqi government which story would go over better?
A) "My own people attacked our (US and Iraqi) police station", or
B) "Look what the foreign Jihadees did"?
Assume the following in drafting your answer;
1) You are the mayor and want to keep your job.
2) As it turns out you know exactly who made the attack and desperately hope nobody finds out you knew it before they attacked.
Which would be the correct answer of the two above, A or B?
Read correctly this is a good indicator of US honesty in Iraq. If the local Allies lied what would most countries do? Admit it? Or help them cover up?

I also heard they found Bluckbuster Video cards on the attackers also, I guess I will have to go cancel my membership there.