IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 156 
Condemning irresponsible and inaccurate journalism, expressing condolences 
to the victims and families of the victims of the riots in the Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan and in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2005 
Mr. NEUGEBAUER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Condemning irresponsible and inaccurate journalism, express-
ing condolences to the victims and families of the victims 
of the riots in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and 
in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and for other 
purposes. 
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 
United States protects and encourages freedom of the 
press; 
Whereas a free, independent, and objective media is necessary 
for the maintenance of liberty; 
Whereas journalists bear a responsibility to the people of the 
United States to provide accurate information;
•HCON 156 IH 
Whereas a free and independent media must enjoy the trust 
of the people; 
Whereas the prevalent media culture encourages journalists 
to ‘‘get the story first’’ rather than to ensure that reports 
are accurate and factual; 
Whereas continuing revelations of inaccurate and irrespon-
sible reports by the media have called into question the 
integrity and responsibility of the institution of jour-
nalism; 
Whereas inaccurate and irresponsible reports by the media 
have real-life consequences; 
Whereas on May 9, 2005, an American news magazine erro-
neously and irresponsibly reported that officials of the 
Government of the United States desecrated a copy of 
the Koran during the interrogation of detainees at Guan-
tanamo Bay, Cuba; 
Whereas the article incited riots in the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan and in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that 
led to the deaths of at least 17 people; 
Whereas the article unnecessarily inflamed passions against 
the United States in a critical region of the world; 
Whereas the article may have unnecessarily complicated ef-
forts by the Government of the United States to pros-
ecute the War on Terror in certain regions of the world; 
Whereas the article may have unnecessarily placed the lives 
of Americans in danger in those regions of the world; 
Whereas the article represents only the most recent and egre-
gious example of irresponsible and inaccurate journalism 
in the American media;
•HCON 156 IH 
Whereas continued irresponsible and inaccurate journalism 
may unnecessarily damage and erode the reputation of 
the United States and its people in other countries and 
regions of the world; and 
Whereas continued irresponsible and inaccurate journalism 
could have unforeseen adverse consequences for American 
foreign policy: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) expresses condolences to the victims of the 
riots in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in the 
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and their families; 
(2) deplores and condemns the continued irre-
sponsible and inaccurate journalism, the most egre-
gious example of which caused riots that led to the 
deaths of at least 17 people in Pakistan and Afghan-
istan; and 
(3) deplores and condemns the prevalent media 
culture that encourages irresponsible and inaccurate 
journalism, and calls upon the media to exercise due 
diligence and caution when preparing reports that 
could jeopardize innocent human lives. 
Æ