Monday, September 03, 2007
Withdrawal! Not.
Network after network, news outlet after news outlet all seem to have adapted the same ludicrous lead to George Bush's trip to Iraq, as in this one from AP:
President Bush raised the possibility Monday of U.S. troop cuts in Iraq if security continues to improve."Raised" the possibility? This hypothetical has been U.S. policy since the day of the invasion! Doesn't anyone remember "as Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down"? I'm pretty sure 98% of my readers do, but it certainly appears there isn't a single reporter for the corporate media who does, based on my viewing and reading today.
Not to mention not understanding the concept of the hypothetical. Bush saying he'll withdraw troops "if security continues [sic] to improve" hardly justifies a headline reading, "Bush sees possible troop cuts in Iraq"; a headline reading "Bush sees possible indefinite occupation at current or higher troop levels" would be just as accurate.
