“Security measures ease curfew in Baghdad” is the headlline this morning on a story in The News & Observer:
Citing improved security in the capital, the Iraqi government said Tuesday that it was shortening the Baghdad curfew by two hours and would allow citizens to be on the streets until 10 p.m.
That’s good news, right? Maybe it shows the surge is working, right? So where does The N&O play that story? On page 12A with a one-column headline. Of course, this good news is undermined by the two Associated Press reporters, Bassem Mroue and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, who add quickly:
Violence in the capital has declined since the latest U.S.-Iraqi joint security operation began on Feb. 14, though there have been spectacular attacks.
But bloodshed has increased elsewhere in Iraq after insurgents and militiamen moved operations out of the capital in advance of the security crackdown.
Meanwhile, the latest installment of Dennis Rogers’ “War Sucks” series gets four-column play on the local front.
UPDATE: Here’s another example of Associated Press’ dishonest reporting designed to downplay the surge’s success and demoralize the home front.
