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Tsk, tsk, tsk

Reuters has acknowledged that a photograph of Beirut after an attack by the Israeli air force was doctored using computer software -- with black smoke enhanced to look worse than in an original shot by photographer Adnan Hajj.

"Reuters has suspended a photographer until investigations are completed into changes made to a photograph showing smoke billowing from buildings following an air strike on Beirut," Reuters spokeswoman Moira Whittle said in a statement yesterday.

"Reuters takes such matters extremely seriously, as it is strictly against company editorial policy to alter pictures. As soon as the allegation came to light, the photograph ... was removed from the file and a replacement, showing the same scene, was sent. The explanation for the removal was the improper use of photo-editing software," she concluded.

Who spotted the faulty photo? Sharp-eyed observers from Web logs -- Little Green Footballs (LGF), Left & Right and the Ace of Spades, among others -- publicly took Reuters to task, accusing the service of using a Photoshop "clone" tool to repeat the spirals of smoke.

"This has to cast doubt not only on the photographer who did the alterations, but on Reuters' entire review process. If they could let such an obvious fake get through to publication, how many more faked or 'enhanced' photos have not been caught?" said Charles Johnson of LGF.

Mr. Johnson previously played a large role in uncovering former CBS anchorman Dan Rather's attempt to pass off phony documents claiming President Bush compromised his Vietnam-era military service. The bogus papers aired on "60 Minutes" in September 2004 -- in the pivotal weeks before the presidential election.

Oh, Joe

There's considerable interest in the political fate of Sen. Joe Lieberman during Connecticut's Democratic primaries tomorrow.