HERE WE GO AGAIN

During the conventional combat phase of the Iraq war, it was noted by numerous critics that the Times was out of line with other outlets throughout, consistently providing a more negative picture of how things were going. (Don't miss this great evisceration of one of their top writers, and if you haven't already ordered this book, which I review over on the left, his chapter on the coverage of the conventional combat phase is worth the price.)

Yesterday, as I noted, but didn't think much of, while the Post (and other outlets) were reporting that US and Iraqi forces had taken 70% of Fallujah, the Times would only cop to "at least a third."

But today the comparison is really egregious.

Before I even get into substantive textual analysis, I just want to point out that the Times is once again lagging substantively in its willingness to admit to progress on the part of American forces.

The lead article is about Bush's nomination of Gonzales for the AG slot, but the second article, and the first pertaining to Fallujah, is headlined, "Assault Slows, but G.I.'s Take Half of Falluja," in both the online and national paper edition.

Which outlets, on the other hand, are saying 70 percent?

Well, the Washington Post. (That's their wire service.)

Noted defense hacks ABC News, using Associated Press material.

The New York Post, although note that's based on sources in the US.

And from the MSNBC web site we find one possible source of the 50 percent figure:

One Marine officer estimated on Wednesday that U.S. and Iraqi forces controlled about 70 percent of the city, but the commander of the Iraqi force said he believed the figure was closer to 50 percent.

Thus giving them sourcing to reduce the official figure by twenty percent.

Of course, in the Times article itself the reporters write:

"They have made good progress through the city, and they're now about halfway through," said Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, commander of the First Marine Division.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Muhammad Jassem Mohan, commander of Iraqi forces, agreed that troops had swept through about half of Falluja

Does that sound to you as if the transcript might suggest he's referring to being half way through the task, not the terrain? Well, maybe not. The Post today, when they have their own reporters up, not AP, is also citing US commanders for their 70% figure. CBS's web site combines AP reporting with that of its own people, some of whom are embedded. They split the difference, saying that US commanders say 70 percent, while the Iraqi commander says closer to 50.

Shouldn't the Times at least mention, as MS and CBS do, that apparently a good number of American commanders on the ground have a sunnier view of things?

I still believe you absolutely, positively must read the New York Times everyday. But, boy, I'm telling you, you don't want to get your news from a single source. And this is just more proof.