Liberal Media: Dropping Like Flies

Can the Second Coming be far distant? Given the glimpses of truth beginning to filter through the pages of darkness typically published by the Main Stream Media, one wonders.

First, in April, The New York Times surprised all several hundred of its remaining readers with a major news story reporting the developing sense of peace spreading across the battlefield that was Anbar province.

Anbar, for nearly three years it was regarded as the most hopeless space and people in all Iraq. It was hopeless. A year after putting into effect the strategies developed by General David Petraeus, Anbar knows evenings, days and weeks without gunfire. Sunni and Shia cooperate in keeping the peace. The American footprint in the province is shrinking while that of Iraqi forces grows.

Anbar is news but its not the biggest news.

The biggest news is that the story appeared in The New York Times.

Then it was the Los Angeles Times, reporting American progress in Iraq being achieved "slowly and subtly," but also acknowledging—in a news story!—that "it is not a message many politicians in Washington want to hear."

A few days later, The New York Times opened its editorial pages to two liberals of impeccable credentials, allowing Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack to deliver an intellectual improvised explosive device, the explosion of which has done substantial damage to the politicians and pundits who can neither see nor hear the progress being gained on the field of battle in Iraq. Their 1,361 words resonate across the rhetorical battlefield in Washington, adding to a "fog of battle" on the left, further confusing the confused.

In late July The New York Times sponsored a routine national survey designed to measure public support of American efforts in Iraq. The newspaper was so surprised by the results—it showed an increase in public support—that it insisted on a do-over. The retake produced the same results, later confirmed by a survey in USA Today. American voters are more optimistic about Iraq than they were a few months ago.

Even the Associated Press has joined the parade, as it allowed veteran reporter Robert Burns to write "The new U.S. military strategy in Iraq, unveiled six months ago to little acclaim, is working."

Even a little good news is enough to potentially tilt the political table. It is only once absolute certainty is lost can real discussion begin. That certainty is slipping and the resulting vertigo is very disconcerting to those who were once so sure.

That must frighten the heck out of those who are so heavily invested in an American failure.

Related Links: "Progress in Anbar" — No! It Can't Be. Not The NYT!