Last night, just before bed, I was reading this story (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTpT89Fu5OBDa8m_UAFfvjnUxuBw) about the hand-over of the Karbala province to the control of Iraqi forces and wondering why AFP felt the need to start that report with six paragraphs about some decapitated bodies found northeast of Baghdad. I mean, they’re two different stories right?

Karbala being handed over is one story, the headless bodies is another. But it’s like AFP just couldn’t report the good news about Karbala being handed over to Iraqi forces without first making you painfully aware of these headless bodies that had been found.

I was going to post on that last night, but I’m glad I held off because now it turns out that the story about the headless bodies isn’t even true (http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/10/decapigate-take-2-another-bogus-20.html). It was repeated in news outlets all over the world, but the BBC is now reporting that it didn’t even happen (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7068155.stm). In fact, US forces in Iraq have investigated the claim that these bodies were found and not one shred of evidence has been found to suggest it actually happened.

So how does a story about 20 headless bodies get reported all over the world without any evidence or official confirmation to back it up? And, what’s more, now that it’s been reported all over the world what is the media going to do to let people know that it was all a hoax?

Nothing, I guess, and that’s a real shame. As our soldiers fight to make progress in Iraq, and they are winning progress by leaps and bounds, it doesn’t help to have them be harassed by fake news stories.

What progress are we making?
Has unemployment in Iraq dropped below 30%?

What progress are we making?
Has unemployment in Iraq dropped below 30%?

I would assume the progress they are referring to is the loss of lives,and the slowing down of secular violence. Still there is a long long long way to go.

I would assume the progress they are referring to is the loss of lives,and the slowing down of secular violence. Still there is a long long long way to go.

and getting longer every day...
Let me know when unemployment in Iraq drops below 30%. Then we can start talking about real progress.

and getting longer every day...
Let me know when unemployment in Iraq drops below 30%. Then we can start talking about real progress.

rampart secular violence kinda puts a hamper on the average Joe going back and forth to work daily.

Unfortunately, reports like this one are quite easy to believe, hoax or not. Stories like that continuously come out of Iraq and are usually true.