It seems Newsweek's Quran-in-the-toilet scandal may become something of a metaphor for the magazine itself.

It turns out the bogus story of the Quran in the toilet may leave Newsweek there.

Everyone in the media makes mistakes from time to time – and maybe Newsweek's retraction and mea culpa would have been enough for readers and the general public had there not been some context to suggest a pattern of anti-Americanism at the magazine.

Japanese edition of Feb. 2 Newsweek

Take, for example, the stunning revelation that earlier this year Newsweek published three very different cover stories in its Japan, International and U.S. editions. In Japan, Newsweek's cover sported an American flag in a trash can under a headline, "The day America died." In the international edition, the magazine featured a photo of President Bush above a headline, "America Leads ... But Is Anyone Following?" Both of those editions featured a story by Andrew Moravcsik.

And what did U.S. readers see?

U.S. edition of Feb. 2 Newsweek

"Oscar Confidential: Hollywood's Hottest Stars Together: A Candid Talk About Acting, Fear & Fame," illustrated with photos of Hilary Swank, Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio. And no Moravcsik story.

Did Newsweek editors really think in this age of global communications that it could put one over on the American people? Did they really think we were that stupid? Did they believe we are so obsessed with Hollywood glitz that we wouldn't notice they were publishing anti-American provocation abroad while pretending to be Entertainment Weekly here at home?

International edition of Feb. 2 Newsweek

Maybe Newsweek can persuade Americans the false story alleging U.S. interrogators desecrated the Quran at Guantanamo was just an innocent mistake. But how will the magazine explain the great cover switcheroo?

How can we conclude anything other than Newsweek is playing a shell game with readers – delivering the pap marketers think they want? Abroad, America is demeaned on insulting covers. At home, those covers conveniently disappear, replaced by the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

In other words, Newsweek is dishing out anti-American red meat abroad, while trying to capture audiences at home with glitz and glamour.

I don't know. To me this is beyond despicable. In wartime, this is borderline treasonous.

Seeing the contrast between these covers tells the whole story. I can't imagine what kind of pack of lies Newsweek's public relations department could cook up to offset this stinging indictment of its deliberate deception and duplicity – let alone its anti-Americanism.

If Newsweek thought an isolated, unceremonious and imaginary desecration of the Quran was newsworthy, what can we say about Newsweek's public, high-profile and real desecration of the American flag on its cover in a foreign edition?

Surely their editors recognized the impact of that imagery. That's why the illustration was used. But they also determined the imagery was too powerful – and commercially counterproductive – to run on covers in the United States.

That's it for me.

I will never buy another issue of Newsweek – at least not while it is in the hands of the rogues currently running it.

I will do my best to live without the newspaper published by its parent company, the Washington Post, as well – even though it is my local paper.

I recommend to everyone reading this commentary today to follow my lead. In fact, I urge you to spread this column by e-mailing it to your friends across the country. Let's start a little viral brushfire the heat of which they will feel in the corporate suites of Newsweek.

Don't write nasty letters to the editor. Don't try to persuade Newsweek to change. Just live without it. See how easy it is.