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| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Whoops! German mag. Focus posts false article about Olmert threatening Iran |
| 2007-04-28 |
| 'Cause antisemitism is Germany's Olde Tyme Religion, right? Focus reporter Amir Taheri apologizes to PM's office for publication of interview on German magazine's website that attributed to PM threatening statements against Iran. Taheri says he did not write interview, asks editors to remove story from site. Earlier, the magazine quoted Olmert as saying that Iran's disputed nuclear program could be severely hit by firing 1,000 cruise missiles in a 10-day attack. The magazine later changed the story's aggressive headline, "Israel threaten Iran," to "Israel toughens its tone against Iran." Focus officials have also admitted that "the impression that was created as if Olmert said that there was an operative plan to strike was exaggerated, and it is now clear that Olmert's statements were not aimed as a threat on Iran." However, in a conversation with Ynet the editors stood by their initial reports and insisted that the text of the interview circulated in the media was correct and will be published tomorrow. An examination of the transcript of Olmert's conversation with the reporter revealed that the PM's perceived aggressiveness in the interview resulted from the fact that fine nuances of his English statements were lost in translation. In the original version of the interview in English, Olmert did mention – albeit in passing - the option of striking Iran, claiming that "no one has ever ruled it out." The Prime Minister's Office said Saturday that the interview with Focus never took place. "The statements published are an utter lie and were never said… This cynical abuse of an invitation for a background conversation, which led to the publication of a false report," the office stated. However, sources at the magazine insisted that their reporter had met with Olmert for an hour and-a-half last Wednesday. Bad translation of an interview that never happened? A tribute to Germany's long tradition of fine journalism. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 In the original version of the interview in English, Olmert did mention – albeit in passing - the option of striking Iran, claiming that "no one has ever ruled it out." It seems Focus isn't keen on wasting money for capable translators. German thriftiness, I s'pose, although the ones I knew over there were quite willing to spend whatever the cost to get high quality, and expressed their thrift by going without other things to balance the budget. But it has been twelve years since we lived there, so perhaps the character of the people has changed. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-04-28 23:00 |
| #1 It sounds better in the original German? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-04-28 22:25 |