There's no denying that the recently-released National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is anything but rosy. But the key question is 'where do we go from here?' The answer, for every one of the Dem presidential contenders, is 'home,' at varying rates of speed. In editorializing on the NIE report, don't you think, then, that it would have been appropriate for the New York Times to mention what the report foresaw as the result of a hasty withdrawal?But the Times had better things to do with its ink, spending most of its editorial spinning the recent military success in Najaf in the most negative possible terms. In doing so, the Gray Lady ignored this key aspect of the report, as described here by CNN:
"The estimate also makes it clear, however, that simply walking away from Iraq may even be worse. If the U.S. makes a 'rapid withdrawal' from Iraq, a move many Democratic lawmakers have called for, the estimate said it could lead to the collapse of the Iraqi Security Forces, potentially plunging the country into a chaotic situation marked by "extreme ethno-sectarian violence with debilitating intra-group clashes."
To ignore this key conclusion, which goes to the heart of the debate raging in Washington today, is no mere negligence on the Times' part. It is nothing short of a journalistic fraud perpetrated on its readers.
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
NIE, and DNI Iraq Briefing last week prove one thing
February 5, 2007 - 08:16 ET by blackrain4xmasCongress doesn't care.
They demanded and demanded and made a huge political issue out of the lack of an Iraq NIE since last Aug. So the DNI prepped a big Iraq Q/A briefing last week and invited all of Congress. 10-25 members attended/the rest had better things to do. DNI puts out this NIE same week. Crux of it is that "Civil War" isn't an accurate description of the entire battle-only parts of it, so Dems and MSM say NIE confirms Iraq is civil war (um, no!). Did they make it to the end of the NIE where it says, if America leaves then all hell will break loose? Nah, they couldn't make it to page 8.
Can't make it to the briefing
Can't accurately read a simple NIE
Can't even make it to pg8 in the NIE
Fact is Congress doesn't care. Iraq's just a political crutch now. If the Dems cared, they'd cut funding and impeach Pres Bush and VP Cheney. Oh, many claim they'll find the balls if they become President, but as mere Congresscritters in a sea of anonymous votes on the Hill somehow they DON'T have the balls? Liars. They don't care. They're just pandering. We all know it. Only some will buy anything to hear what they want to hear.
NewsBusters: All the News the
February 5, 2007 - 10:37 ET by aeroNewsBusters: All the News the New York Times Didn't See Fit to Print :-)