In “The Big Picture(s),†I noted that the dominant mode of the establishment media this year was to claim that any piece of bad news “cast doubt” on the new US strategy or the progress it has made:
When Pres. Bush announced the surge, the poll numbers supporting it increased, but the establishment media  especially CBS –focused almost entirely on negative reaction to it. If civilian casualties went down, it was because death squads decided to lie low, not because so many militia leaders were detained. Any increase in US casualties  which would be expected from a strategy that put the troops in among the local population and was more aggressive in going after terrorists  would “cast doubt†on the surge, with CNN International launching a similar attack during a report on soldiers being honored for their valor. A June terror attack on a Baghdad hotel “was a blow struck against the US plan.â€Â The August terror bombing of the Yazidis came “just as the American military is claiming the troop surge is making real progress,†and â€Âdealt a serious blow to the Bush administration’s hopes of presenting a positive picture in a progress report on Iraq.â€Â The NYT claimed the plan was falling short of its goals in July, and so on.
The reality  at least at the moment  is that the new counter-insurgency strategy has turned the trendline of civilian casualties downward for the first time since (semi-)reliable data has been available.
The trend continues with today’s report from the Associated Press:
An al-Qaida front group threatened to assassinate Sunni leaders who support American troops in Iraq as a Shiite bloc loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr defected Saturday from the Iraqi government’s parliament base.
The developments cast doubt on prospects for Iraq political and military progress as the U.S. Senate gears up for a debate next week about Democratic demands for deeper, faster troop cuts than President Bush plans.
Could it be that the AP is one of the few organizations in the world who did not anticipate that AQI would target new Sunni allies — especially since they have been doing so for a while already? We know that the AP knows that last week’s assassination of Sheikh Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha has galvanized not only Sunnis in Anbar, but also Shiite tribal leaders in southern Iraq, against AQI.
As for the Sadr bloc leaving parliament, it should be noted that it has left and rejoined the parliament at least three times since last December. The phrase “big deal” comes to mind.
Sunday’s AP report cast doubt on its ability to fairly report events in Iraq.
The only new development they’re ever going to be interested in reporting is the helicopters lifting off from the embassy roof.
Tribune’s news operation has perfected a riff on this: “even though” reporting. Their White Housecorrespondent Sabrina Fang will report a piece as something like: “President Bush fed tsunami victims with his own hands today EVEN THOUGH discredited Russian pornography alleged to be from Abu Ghraib continues to circulate on the internet…”
The good news, Dan, is that the legacy media has retired it’s tired critiques from 2004 and 2006 to make room for its new Surge-related ones. The change is refreshing really!
Gone is the “We’re Overstretched” meme which argued for troop reductions on the basis that Operation Iraqi Freedom sapped all our military’s might.
Gone, too, is the “Bush Lied About WMD” meme. It is a non sequitur now and the establishment media know this (and maybe, just maybe, CBS, CNN et al always knew this meme had structural problems and a short shelf-life in the first place – but they played it out anyway).
So, out with the old, and in with the new. It’s a new season and a new day. And a girl’s got to look her best.
Doncha know, there’s a surge goin’ on.
Sorry, Karl.
I forgot you work here, too.
-S
Ooooo, that was cold, Steveaz, cold.
– That 48 strong Jihadist working group in the AP foreign office is REALLY earning their paychecks.
Genersl Public Snnouncement: The corporate head of AP International stated today that from today forward the “AP” will stand for “Arab Press”. Thank you….that is all.
The armed forces are overstretched meme is going to get more press as Jim Webb’s bill comes up and then gets vetoed.
The WMD meme will be recycled throughout 2008 as election needs dictate.
Data mining will be exposed as having mislaid at least ten people’s phone numbers.
Movies will be made and then critically acclaimed because they portray noble middle eastern humanity pitted against US soldiers who behave as animals.
– Cindy Sheehan will threaten to challange Hillery for the Dem Presidential nomination.
– The Breck Girl will duck Hampsters treatment of his wife, and add 5,000 more feet to his log cabin.
– Obama will declare we should attack Briton and France if they don’t do something about their Muslim problems.
– McCain will announce weekly that he is a Presidential Candidate, so at least a few people remember.
– Fred Thomson will show up after the nominations have been decided, and declare his intentions to run.
– Rudy will actaully give a speech where he forgets to mention his role in 9/11.
– Kucinich will blame Bush for Britneys fat ass.
If we could get Maliki to stand aside we could end this Sadr situation pretty quick.
Something like “Go ahead and take your marbles home, Mook. Pardon me while I call the IA/IP and the 82d Airborne and let them know you’re not legislators any more, just another bunch of small time terrorists”.
Whenever I encounter the media’s attempt to cast doubt on the abilities of our military, I think of the words of Tommy Lantos. I.Don’t.Buy.It.
So, in your world, Steve, does “meme” mean untruth? Because, the military is overstretched, Steve, with the Ready Reserve tapped and the Amry using Naval Reserve units to serve as support troops. If by meme, you mean “absolute truth”, then I think you are correct.
Let the New Nuremberg begin……………..
Glad cleo showed; we totally forgot the US = war criminals talking point.
Yea, Karl! Not to mention the fact that Semi-concious’ AP story is just the soul of unbiased.
Unless I’m missing something didn’t we flatten that city like a pancake and take out about 1500 insurgents/terrorists in the process?
BJ – That is the case, but the media is only able to count when it involves deaths of Americans, or atrocities committed by Americans. When it comes to the deaths of jihadis, the numbers no longer matter, just that they exist.
JD:
I thought so. My reading of that battle was the conclusion that Fallujah is the movie poster for the very, very bad things that happen to Insurgent/Terrorists when they attempt to engage US troops in open battle.
Result: Many.Dead.Splodeydopes.
I still have the gun film of the bomb dropped in the midst of about 50 insurgents running down a Fallujah stret. The results highlight the detriment of openly running down streets waving guns towards American soldiers.
*BOOM* bye
Yeah, I’ve written about that.
BJ – That is precisely what I was talking about, and what Karl has written about much better than I ever could.
omment by Semanticleo on 9/17 @ 8:56 am #
Let the New Nuremberg begin……………..
If you were any more over the top you’d be singing like Ethel Murman. Besides. You don’t like jews. Remember?
Miss KKKleo sees a Zionist Cabal conspiracy around every corner. But she lover her some Joooooooooooooooooooooooooos.
Semanticleo, Ethel Merman. Semanticleo, Ethel Merman. Hmmm…
dogpile.com… ‘ethel merman mp3’…