26 March, 2011

Just Remember, Reuters Is a “News Service”



Air quotes intentional.

Jeffery Goldberg is upset with Reuters this week for two articles, one distorted and one that’s flat out wrong.

He talks about the first one here.

Police said it was a "terrorist attack" -- Israel's term for a Palestinian strike. It was the first time Jerusalem had been hit by such a bomb since 2004.
Those Israelis and their crazy terms! I mean, referring to a fatal bombing of civilians as a "terrorist attack"? Who are they kidding? Everyone knows that a fatal bombing of Israeli civilians should be referred to as a "teachable moment." Or as a "venting of certain frustrations." Or as "an understandable reaction to Jewish perfidy." Or perhaps as "a very special episode of 'Cheers.'" Anything but "a terrorist attack."

But that’s just typical Reuters distortion. The second is far worse. Once again, he rips it. But The Cable at Foreign Policy does a better job. The problem they both have is with this statement about Libya:

Obama is committed to partnering with other countries rather than going it alone as did his predecessor George W. Bush, which both broadens and complicates the decision-making process.

From the article by The Cable (emphasis mine):

The Cable compiled a chart listing all the countries that contributed at least some military assets to the five major military operations in which the United States participated in a coalition during the last 20 years: the 1991 Gulf War (32 countries participating), the 1995 Bosnia mission (24 countries), the 1999 Kosovo mission (19 countries), the 2002 invasion of Afghanistan (48 countries), and the 2003 invasion of Iraq (40 countries), at the height of the size of each coalition. As of today, only 15 countries, including the United States, have committed to providing a military contribution to the Libya war

Damn that cowboy George W. Bush (R-USA) for going it alone with about three times the international support of Barack Obama (D-USA).

Really, though…Mr. Goldberg shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Reuters is a “news service”.

More Faux News.

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