The public has a right to know! Sez who?

I have to ask a question ...

Suppose:

1. It was/is true, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that some American military personnel did, in fact, flush a copy of the Koran down a toilet.
   
   - and -
   
2. It was also known for sure that if that fact was to come out, in a public light, that there would be anti-American rioting and that 16 people would die.
   

Knowing the above, would Newsweek publish the story? Should they publish? What would the American people say?