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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 17 March 2018

ProPublica leads media into correction of murky CIA story

By DAVID BAUDER and we must be equally
NEW YORK (AP) — The news accountable," wrote the
organization ProPublica site's editor-in-chief, Ste-
issued a detailed correc- phen Engelberg. "This error
tion of a story about Gina was particularly unfortu-
Haspel, President Donald nate because it muddied
Trump's choice for the next an important national de-
CIA director, and the wa- bate about Haspel and the
terboarding of a detainee CIA's recent history."
the year after the Sept. ProPublica said it was told
11, 2001 terrorist attacks.It by three former govern-
wasn't alone: Other orga- ment officials, when Halsey
nizations, including The As- became the No. 2 person
sociated Press, have issued at the CIA last year, that
their own corrections this she had been head of the
week, illustrating the murki- Thailand base at the time
ness of reporting on the of Zubaydah's waterboard-
behavior of official actions ing. The New York Times
by public servants whose also reported that same
work, by its very nature, re- detail last year.
mains in the shadows. But that was called into
The retraction and apol- question this week, Pro-
ogy on Thursday by Pro- Publica said, when two of
Publica, an organization of This March 21, 2017, photo provided by the CIA, shows CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel. The news Halsey's former colleagues
organization ProPublica corrected a story about President Trump's choice as the next CIA director
independent investigative and the waterboarding of a detainee the year after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. said that she did not ar-
journalists founded in 2007, (CIA via AP) rive in Thailand until after
was unusual in the amount Zubaydah's interrogation.
of detail it offered about pected al-Qaida detainee posed promotion of the clear that Haspel was not The site said its original story
its reporting process. Pro- Abu Zubaydah was interro- longtime CIA official. in charge of the base until also relied on a book by
Publica concluded it was gated with waterboarding, ProPublica also apolo- after Zubaydah's interroga- James Mitchell, a CIA con-
wrong last year in report- a measure that some re- gized for incorrectly say- tion was finished. tractor who helped direct
ing that Gina Haspel was gard as torture. That claim ing that Haspel mocked "We at ProPublica hold the waterboarding, and a
chief of a secret CIA "black became relevant again Zubaydah's suffering. The government officials re- faulty assumption made by
site" in Thailand where sus- this week with Trump's pro- organization said it is now sponsible for their missteps, the news site.q

Pentagon: No survivors in American helicopter crash in Iraq

By QASSIM ZAHRA The crash did not appear search and rescue, and the statement added. ated through much of last
BAGHDAD (AP) — All seven to be the result of enemy was in transit from one lo- President Donald Trump year, as coalition and Iraqi
service members aboard a activity and is under investi- cation to another when it offered his thoughts and forces battled to take back
U.S. helicopter that crashed gation, the Pentagon said. went down Thursday af- prayers on Twitter Friday a string of cities and towns.
in Iraq were killed, the Pen- "This tragedy reminds us of ternoon near the town of for the families of service Prime Minister Haider al-
tagon said Friday in a writ- the risks our men and wom- Qaim in Anbar Province. members killed, saying he Abadi declared victory
ten statement. en face every day in ser- The Pentagon said an ac- was thinking of the "brave over IS in Mosul in July. In
The aircraft crashed in vice of our nations. We are companying U.S. helicop- troops," and adding that the following months, Iraqi
western Iraq a day earlier, thinking of the loved ones ter immediately reported "their sacrifice in service forces retook a handful
U.S. officials said. of these service members the crash and a quick-re- to our country will never of other IS-held towns in-
The officials said seven today," said U.S. Army Brig. action force comprised of be forgotten." The U.S.-led cluding Tal Afar in August,
service members were Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, Iraqi security forces and coalition battling the Is- Hawija in September and
on board. They spoke on director of operations in the Coalition members se- lamic State group in Iraq Qaim in October. In No-
condition of anonymity in fight against IS in Iraq and cured the scene. and Syria have an outpost vember, Iraqi forces retook
order to discuss details of Syria. The names of those killed in Qaim, which is located the last Iraqi town held by IS
the crash before they were The helicopter was used by will be released after next near the Syrian border. The — Rawah, near the border
made public. the Air Force for combat of kin have been notified, anti-IS campaign acceler- with Syria.q