In DC, All Eyes On Iraq's Political Mess

[babylonsister]

In DC, All Eyes On Iraq's Political Mess

A day after the comparably low monthly US death toll in Iraq led to optimistic assessments that things are improving militarily there, President Bush focused on Iraq's political woes. In a videophone conversation with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Bush "delivered a blunt message," the CBS Evening News said, demanding that Maliki "show some progress in uniting rival factions." However, even "while that was happening, key Sunni officials announced they're leaving the government." The AP says White House "downplayed the significance" of the bloc's departure, with White House Press Secretary Tony Snow saying "reconciliation is ongoing" and noting that Iraq's Sunni vice president and defense minister "remain in place."

But unlike yesterday's upbeat coverage focusing on military aspects media outlets across the board portrayed the situation in Iraq in a starkly negative light. ABC World News, for example, noted, "In the critical, political arena, the picture is bleak" following the bloc's withdrawal. NBC Nightly News also called the move a "new setback" for Maliki's government. The New York Times says the move is "severely weakening the government's credentials as a national unity coalition and setting back hopes of reconciliation," while the Washington Post calls it "the latest indication of growing Sunni frustration" with Prime Minister Maliki. The Financial Times calls it "a significant blow to hopes for Sunni-Shia reconciliation. USA Today, Washington Times and Los Angeles Times, among other newspapers, run similar assessments this morning.

On its front page, the New York Times says the war's "staunchest supporters have seized on the reduced death toll in July for American troops as a sign that an influx of troops is dampening sectarian violence in the country. Yet even before the car bombings on Wednesday, opponents of the war were citing reports that the Iraqi civilian deaths were on the rise -- a fact they say belies any notion that the White House strategy is having its intended effect of protecting the Iraqi population."

Sen. Joseph Biden said on MSNBC's Hardball, "I know Gen. Petraeus well, been in constant contact with him the last four and a half years. I disagree with his plan and the surge, but I think he's an honorable guy. I think he'll come back and say two things. You're going to have to read between the lines. And one's going to be, we've made some progress in the surge, we've made some military progress. But I think he'll be honest enough to say we've made no political progress."

more...

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_070802.htm

[TahitiNut]

1. It was NOT a "comparably low monthly US death toll in Iraq"

It was the HIGHEST death toll for the month of July since the invasion! :grr:

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, but they're spinning it as the lowest month for death tolls

This. Year. :mad: (But only for Americans; no one cares about the Iraqs; I believe I heard their deaths went up by 1/4 this month, to well over 1,000)