Monday, October 30, 2006
The Post reports, you decide
The Washington Post website – Front Page – at 5:24 PM EST, October 30, 2006
Pakistani Raid on School Kills 80
Top Islamic political leader says American planes were used, but U.S. military denies involvement.
–Associated Press 4:54 p.m. ET
And here’s how the actual story is headlined:
Militants Blame U.S. for Pakistan Strike
But here’s the opening of the story:
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistani helicopter gunships on Monday destroyed a religious school the military said was fronting as an al-Qaida training camp, killing 80 people in the country's deadliest military operation targeting suspected terrorists.
Strangely, no mention of U.S. involvement. And read paragraph 3: “U.S. and Pakistani military officials denied American involvement.”
So the AP is reporting that Pakistani helicopters conducted the raid but the Washington Post headline trumpets a seemingly bogus claim by the almost-never-reliable “Islamic leaders and al-Qaida-linked militants.” And the front page teaser ignores the role of Pakistani helicopters AND Pakistan’s concurrent denial of American involvement.
Meanwhile, also in today’s Washington Post, Sebastian Mallaby bemoans a current decline in trust:
“The boom of the 1990s boosted trust in business; the 2001 terrorist attacks boosted trust in government. But CEOs and politicians abused these gifts with scandals and incompetence.”
…and no, I couldn’t find any mention of the press either.
Pakistani Raid on School Kills 80
Top Islamic political leader says American planes were used, but U.S. military denies involvement.
–Associated Press 4:54 p.m. ET
And here’s how the actual story is headlined:
Militants Blame U.S. for Pakistan Strike
But here’s the opening of the story:
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistani helicopter gunships on Monday destroyed a religious school the military said was fronting as an al-Qaida training camp, killing 80 people in the country's deadliest military operation targeting suspected terrorists.
Strangely, no mention of U.S. involvement. And read paragraph 3: “U.S. and Pakistani military officials denied American involvement.”
So the AP is reporting that Pakistani helicopters conducted the raid but the Washington Post headline trumpets a seemingly bogus claim by the almost-never-reliable “Islamic leaders and al-Qaida-linked militants.” And the front page teaser ignores the role of Pakistani helicopters AND Pakistan’s concurrent denial of American involvement.
Meanwhile, also in today’s Washington Post, Sebastian Mallaby bemoans a current decline in trust:
“The boom of the 1990s boosted trust in business; the 2001 terrorist attacks boosted trust in government. But CEOs and politicians abused these gifts with scandals and incompetence.”
…and no, I couldn’t find any mention of the press either.
