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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-01-10

Bias. . .What Bias?

The front page of the NYTimes had this story, which also ran in today's Denver Post (though on page 26A). I especially love the headline: "U.S. Is Haunted by Initial Plan for Iraq Voting."

So let's take a look at Mr. Weisman's piece, shall we? Paragraph 1:

In its struggle to transfer sovereignty back to Iraq last spring, the Bush administration made some tough decisions about the makeup of the political system and how Iraqi elections could occur quickly and fairly. But now a little-noticed decision on election procedures has come back to haunt administration officials, just weeks before the vote is to take place, administration and United Nations officials say.

Bot that? Administration and U.N. officials say. . . Do you suppose that sort of anonymous sourcing might run throughout? Let's see. . .

Par. 4: "According to officials planning the election. . ."

Par. 5: ". . .it was believed,. . ."

Par.7: "The experts reasoned. . ."

Par.8: ". . .said an official involved . . ."

Par. 9: ". . .according to American, Iraqi, and U.N. officials. . ."

Par. 10: "For one thing, these officials say. . . "

That's a lot of random anonymity to be throwing around. Oh, we do quote one person directly: Brent Scowcroft, "the former nation security adviser of President George H.W. Bush and an increasingly vocal critic of the war."

But the real kicker is buried in paragraph the last:

The decision to set up the election this way was made by L. Paul Bremer III late in his tenure as the American administrator in Iraq. His aides say the decision was urged on him by United Nations experts who argued that there was no other way to ensure elections quickly. (emphasis mine)

Huh. Wonder why it took so long to mention that the decision to push for elections at this time was "urged by the U.N."
Posted by: Michael / 1/10/2005 01:19:00 AM

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