When Rush Limbaugh opened today's show by mentioning that the New York Times had relegated to page A19 the story of the ridding of Al Qaeda-in-Iraq from all of Baghdad, I actually thought he might be joking. Surely not even the Times could be so brazenly biased as to bury such a huge story reflecting the success of the surge.
But, sure enough, Rush was right. Page A19 is precisely the remote location to which the Times banished the story. And to further diminish the number of people who would learn the good news, the paper stuck this bland headline on it:
"Rebel Unit Now Out of Baghdad, U.S. General Asserts"
The headline of the online-version of the story:
"Militant Group Is Out of Baghdad, U.S. Says"
differs slightly, but the text is the same.
Yeah, it was just some "rebel unit" or "militant group" that the MNF has driven out of all of Baghdad:
AL-FREAKING-QAEDA!
And note the Times's passive tone: AQI is "out" of Baghdad. Hey: they were driven out by the MNF. Defeated. Killed or taken prisoner. Those that escaped either fled or slinked out.
But thanks to Rush, and now with a little help from NB, many more people are going to read the story and learn that:
American forces have routed Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the Iraqi militant network, from every neighborhood of Baghdad, a top American general said today, allowing American troops involved in the“surge” to depart as planned.
Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr. [pictured here], commander of United States forces in Baghdad, also said that American troops had yet to clear some 13 percent of the city, including Sadr City and several other areas controlled by Shiite militias. But, he said, “there’s just no question” that violence had declined since a spike in June.
“Murder victims are down 80 percent from where they were at the peak,” and attacks involving improvised bombs are down 70 percent, he said.
Aside: I wouldn't have a hard copy of the NYT around, and neither did either of the NB editors I contacted. So to verify the story I got in touch with a good friend who was quickly able to put his hands on it because they give the Times away free at his workplace . . . an elite northeastern university!
Rather than calling attention to the reality of good military news in Iraq, the MSM would rather fantasize over bad military news in an imaginary country, as in this cartoon from today's Washington Post [hat tip Tom Johnson].
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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One for the good guys.
November 8, 2007 - 12:59 ET by RexmanoWe are the "good guys"
It's Party Time!!!
November 8, 2007 - 14:40 ET by CapitalismRulesPop open the Champagne, light the fireworks, start the parades, get your flags out and go nuts in the streets! Hug the nearest serviceman, email a big congrats to the armed forces. Whatever you think of George W, give him a good ol' "thanks for hanging in there!" I'm dead serious folks, this one may not rank up there with the surrender of Japan, but this is HUGE news. We have won a major victory after incredible odds against us in the Arab world and news media. We who have believed in this effort from the start should all feel like true Americans, underdogs who after a long hard fight, have won the day.
Not according to Pelosi, we aren't
November 8, 2007 - 20:32 ET by ThisnThatHere's what Pelosi said today about Iraq: "... This is not working. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it".
According to Pelosi, we are not the good guys. We are the eeeevil Americans, embroiled in a civil way, killing innocent civilians by the thousands -- on purpose. There's no progress, and we have to surrender now, before it's too late.
The Dims are simply going to get crushed over this, if the Republican candidate knows how to emphasize it.
If the NYT was smart, they would start leaking this so that the impact won't be so large during the general election. But even the Times is so blinded by BDS they can't see the tidal wave coming.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Does anybody read that
November 8, 2007 - 13:21 ET by jdhawkDoes anybody read that mullet wrapper anymore?
I've said this before
November 8, 2007 - 13:23 ET by KillgraveIt's amazing how these libs desperately wish for us to fail in Iraq.
It's like those black-clad, black eyeliner kids in high school who show up at the football game and cheer AGAINST their team.
The idea, though, is that immature crybabies are supposed to grow OUT of that phase.
HuffPo has been hidding the
November 8, 2007 - 13:30 ET by Right2thePointHuffPo has been hidding the story behind the really important issue of the writers strike.
Kos is catching flak because his progressive fundraisers have brought in over the last two or three weeks about what Ron Paul brought in during the first hour the other day.
Others are saying the war isn't the issue any more, Global Warming is the really really important stuff.
Pelosi and Murtha are coming out for no funding without a withdrawl promise which is good considering their batting record.
By the way, the NYT stock
November 8, 2007 - 13:33 ET by jdhawkBy the way, the NYT stock price has dropped 20% in just under 2 months. It is trading at a 52 week all time low.
It has 9 Wall Street analysts following the stock. 6 rate it a "hold", 2 rate it "underperform" and 1 rates it a "sell". Anything other than a "buy" is the kiss of death on Wall Street. You almost never see an analyst's rate a stock a "sell."
I would tell you its P/E, but it doesn't have one after losing over a half a billon dollars in income this last year.
Oh, here is a "bright" spot, it doubled its debt over the last year.
Hee Haw
November 8, 2007 - 21:19 ET by stratmanNiiiiice!
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Double Post
November 8, 2007 - 13:34 ET by jdhawkDouble Post
Media Matters is on about
November 8, 2007 - 13:34 ET by Right2thePointMedia Matters is on about their forth or fifth cleanup in aisle three today behind Hillary and now they just added a couple more to clean up behind Bill to "clarify" his remarks.
Those boys are really gonna have their hands full once the voting starts in the primaries.
That's ok. We know this is
November 8, 2007 - 13:37 ET by oldArmyThat's ok. We know this is how they are about any good news in Iraq and all the great things our military is doing over there every day! I'm comforted with the fact that the NYT makes the FRONT page of the "Drudge Report" reporting their downward spiraling circulation #'s and financial losses. Drudge had 018,072,285 visits IN PAST 24 HOURS.....
How Sweet it is!!!.......(Jackie Gleason)
When the news out of Iraq
November 8, 2007 - 13:38 ET by Right2thePointWhen the news out of Iraq has the government more concerned about BlackWater than JAM or AQI somebody has to have been doing something right.
In other
November 8, 2007 - 13:47 ET by Right2thePointIn other news
JustOneMinute has a new blog post up
Guns don't kill cats, ex Presidents kill cats.
PETA call your office, Mike Vick on line 3
When the NY Times
November 8, 2007 - 14:21 ET by JimboWhen the NY Times goes bankrupt, I'm sure other liberal papers will print the story on page A19.
Leon says "By the way, I'm not afraid of fat people, I'm repulsed"
Truth Monger Says - "Both are religions [Christianity & Islam], yes - with the same percentage of terrorists."
What's the big deal? This is
November 8, 2007 - 14:36 ET by Roger the ShrubberWhat's the big deal? This is quite a non-story. There are only 2-3 Al-Qaeda in all of Iraq, and it is obviously a civil war. Leon told us that a while back. The debate is over.
Mark. And a whopping 719 words to boot.
November 8, 2007 - 14:44 ET by Gary HallMark. Wow! Page A19 -- and a whopping 719 words short to boot. Perhaps the NY Times is trying to make up for lost revenue by rationing ink.
For the record, I just searched the LA Times. Big surprise - the story is not there to be seen. Instead... you're going to just love this one.. remember the excuse that a couple of months of declining violence and military successes don't make a trend worth reporting.. remember that?
Well, the LA Times did go with a new trend today - in their never ending search for bad news: Attacks on educators continue in Iraq.
Actually, I'm not too sure if I can interpret this. First we have (my bold):
Then we are told:
Last I checked the "capital" and "Baghdad" were one in the same. At any rate, the important thing to understand, is that this thing continues.
What happens if it stops tomorrow? Well, naturally the LA Times will be out with a story next week, clearly stating that this thing, stopped.
And in summary, it is always important to remember, that the LA Times and the NY Times, and friends dig up all of these stories, not to create an awareness which would result in a desire among it's readers to do something - to demand - that this violence be stopped. Not to condemn the senseless slaughter of human souls.
Rather, it's only for the purpose of making Bush look bad. It's not so much any more that blood sells, it's that blood is wanted by the media -- and for what? Political greed. (;~/
Meanwhile.......
November 8, 2007 - 15:12 ET by Prester John.....the Washington Post continues to highlight Blackwater on its front page:
How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards
Witnesses Call Shooting From Justice Ministry Unprovoked, But State Dept. Cleared Its Security Team After a Brief Probe
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110702751.html?hpid=topnews
Mark... NYT's is pure evil
November 8, 2007 - 16:13 ET by MrShyYES, this is pretty un - f'ing - believable!
I live in NYC, and just walked out to my front door to see if the rolled-up NYT was there, which a lady upstairs has a subscription to.... and whadda'ya know?? She JUST went and grabbed it as I walked outside to peak into it!! :(
But I'm sure it was indeed buried way in the back of Section A. I could go out and buy, er waste $1.25 on, a copy...
But amazing, just AMAZING.... "rebel unit" and "militant group" ??? in the headlines .... and not Al Qaeda?!?!? How do they get away with this???!!!
Btw, I looked at foxnews.com, and interestingly enough (or oddly) I found no mention of this at all. Why would that be?
nature of the enemy
November 8, 2007 - 18:32 ET by PTWWhen can we start to understand the nature of the enemy? We cannot celebrate this as a victory just yet. Remember we haven't lost a battle in Iraq or Vietnam for that matter.
Let's stop using cold war and WWII rhetoric. Al Qaida has not collapsed nor have they lost their capabilities to strike. Much like other cities in Iraq in previous years, the enemy leaves when we have enough troops and resist. These guys are terrorists, not the German Panzer division or Japan's standing army which surrendered after the bombings.
That's why its on buried in the Times. On top of that fact that we've seen headlines for 5 years about top AQ leaders being killed and captured.
These killers blow themselves and innocents up. They don't target military. Those who do...Fort Dix Six are idiotic offshoots.
Sorry to rain on your Victory parade, but this enemy will always be around the next corner, or subway, or train station, or airport. We manage terrorism, we don't defeat it. Look at your history books. Insurgents lose after time. Terrorism evolves to strike fear.
Again...these guys will be back
Yes they are terrorists and
November 9, 2007 - 16:38 ET by Dan The Man 2Yes they are terrorists and they will be back and we are going to repell them wether thier name is Al Quada or Hamas or Fatah aor IRA. The thing you dont get is taht we are having success and it is buried and subugated and relegated to ho hum status. All the while these traitors in conress like Murtha Paloosi and more are saying we are losing and have lost lets pull out.
The objective is being accomplished little by little and the Dems and the MSM dont want you to see this. The objective is as it always has been to get the Iraqi country and government stabile and able to defend itself with little help is any.
Now that is why this is a big deal and why burying it is a biog deal.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.