Michelle notes that to get the story of what’s happening in Iraq, you need to turn to the newspapers… in Austrailia.
IT is whispered about at the margins of meetings, and discussed in Washington parties where rumour is passed around with the wine and canapes.
It even appears, fleetingly, to be fact.
“The day nobody died from violence in Iraq” is a date that has been much anticipated in the White House – where US President George W. Bush is desperate to hail the success of his surge of 30,000 troops this year.
But no one can quite say when this event occurred.
“It was some time this week, wasn’t it?” says a senior military source. “Or maybe last week.”
Another diplomatic official confidently asserted that there were “at least two such days this month”. When, exactly? “Not sure,” he replied.
Such vagueness may be concealing a truly significant transformation on the ground in Iraq.
…
During a five-day stretch between October 19 and 23, there were no deaths among coalition forces. Although three US servicemen died from “non-hostile causes”, this was the longest period without combat deaths for almost four years. And, between October 27 and 29, there were more days without coalition deaths.
Someone should tell The New York Times. After all, this is news that’s fit to print, isn’t it? I guess Michelle’s right; it doesn’t fit the narrative.
Tags: Austrailia, BO, Bush, Che, Coalition forces, George W. Bush, Iraq, Men, military, new york, New York Times, oops, The New York Times, UN, W, WHAT biased press?, White House
