Newsweek and the Quran story

Slate's Jack Shafer says almost everything that needs to be said about the alleged desecration of the Quran at Gitmo. Anonymous sources, tacit confirmation, and projected document quotes are all bad ideas. Lexis-searching for a meme is a good idea. Rhinocrisy points out a Juan Cole post that does give the story some teeth, but Shafer's analysis of Newsweek's use of anonymous sourcing still stands. It doesn't seem like we can say it happened. I also agree that the violent riots aren't Newsweek's fault. Of course, as Rhinocrisy points out, we are losing sight of the forest for the trees.