IN THE NEWS
Yesterday, I wrote at length about how counterproductive it was for US officials and the press to portray the Iraqi insurgents as a monolithic, faceless enemy. Today, this article in The Washington Post, "Dozens Are Arrested In US-Iraqi Operation," illustrates my point.
I wasn't sure if the fault was the reporter's or the Pentagon's. Maybe the details about which insurgent group was the target of this sweep were left out of the article or the briefing. I've been combing other news sources this morning for further details, and I can't find any. Later, if I can find another news source that does tell us the group involved, the finger will point at the Post. If the briefing transcript becomes available, or there aren't any articles to be found with the key bit of information, the figner may point at the Pentagon. Either way, how do Americans judge from this event if it's good news (a tough opponent hurt in this operation) or so-so news (a minor insurgent group was the target)?
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