Blogger @redsteeze called out the Washington Post on its headline concerning the controversial release of five Taliban leaders from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. “Republicans say law was broken to get Bergdahl freed,” it read. “Lawmakers were not notified of the Guantanamo detainees’ transfer until after it occurred.” plain and simple.
As Karen Tumulty’s article reads, though, whether the law was broken or not doesn’t depend on what “Republicans say.” It just was.
The law requires the defense secretary to notify relevant congressional committees at least 30 days before making any transfers of prisoners, to explain the reason and to provide assurances that those released would not be in a position to reengage in activities that could threaten the United States or its interests.
…
A senior administration official, agreeing to speak on the condition of anonymity to explain the timing of the congressional notification, acknowledged that the law was not followed.
@redsteeze No headline change. Diff headlines in diff parts of web. Print version is: Republicans question release of 'hardened terrorists.'
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 1, 2014
@redsteeze Also, story not our main one on this. is the reaction sidebar to main story. we also have a profile of the guys let out of gitmo.
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 1, 2014
@redsteeze print version subhead (you seem obsessed w headlines): "legislators weren't told of prisoner transfer in advance as law requires"
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473142291826475009
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473143104141537280
Good point.
https://twitter.com/neontaster/status/473143384195203073
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473144483320954880
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473144689320030208
@redsteeze @ktumulty That's just your "obsession with headlines" causing you to question State Media, 'steeze. Obviously.
— 100 Proof (@ChampionCapua) June 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473145302854414337
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473146151559237632
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473147259899891713
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473147336034881536
@redsteeze repeating (should I do this more slowly?) no headline was changed. All original versions for homepage, social, story, print etc
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 1, 2014
@redsteeze appreciate your efforts to make my totally accurate story 1 of most heavily read on our site. Should I send a #wapo coffee mug?
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473159627560189952
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/473160107224993792
The most basic lesson to take away from this incident?
@redsteeze @instapundit @ktumulty "Republicans say" means "reporter disagrees"
— Don Surber (@donsurber) June 1, 2014
Bingo.
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