The AP Does It Again

And oddly enough, the New York Times is the one who carries the news straight this time.

The statements about the situation in Iraq came during exchanges with Senators Carl Levin of Michigan, the panel’s ranking Democrat and soon to be chairman, and John McCain, Republican of Arizona, during Mr. Gates’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?” Mr. Levin asked.

“No, sir,” Mr. Gates replied, going on to agree with the senator that a political settlement is needed to end the blood-letting, and that the United States needed to convey “a sense of urgency” to the Iraqis about reaching an accord.

Mr. Levin said Mr. Gates’s remarks amounted to a “necessary, refreshing breath of reality.”

Senator McCain pursued the point about victory being elusive. “We are not winning the war in Iraq, is that correct?” the senator asked.

“That is my view, yes, senator,” Mr. Gates replied.

“And therefore the status quo is not acceptable?” Mr. McCain pressed.

“That is correct, sir,” Mr. Gates said.

He added that the United States is not losing the war, either. (Emphasis added)

The Associated Press, however reports it this way:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded Tuesday that the United States is losing the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."

At the outset of his Senate confirmation hearing, Gates said he is open to new ideas about correcting the U.S. course in Iraq, which he said would be his highest priority if confirmed as expected.

That statement, at odds with their own headline incidentally, is patently not true. Since Gates flat out stated that the US is not losing the war. There is a difference.

That statement, at odds with their own headline incidentally, is patently not true. Since Gates flat out stated that the US is not losing the war. There is a difference.

Other Links to this Post

1. A Blog For All — Tuesday, 5 December , 2006 @ 7:39 pm

2. The Heretik : A Winning Argument — Wednesday, 6 December , 2006 @ 1:03 am