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With mainstream media patsies like these, who needs Judith Miller?

Wittingly or unwittingly, the mainstream media continues to aid and abet the Bush administration’s propaganda campaign on Iran.  Shortly after Sunday’s round of political gabfests, the Washington Post posted a story online (by Joshua Partlow) that supported the claims of the right’s talking cable heads about Iran’s actions in Iraq.

Iran Sending Explosives to Extremist Groups in Iraq, Officials Say

By Joshua Partlow
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, February 11, 2007; 1:54 PM

BAGHDAD Feb 11 — Iranian security forces, taking orders from the “highest levels” of the Iranian government, are funneling sophisticated explosives to extremist groups in Iraq, and the weapons have grown increasingly deadly for U.S.-led troops over the past two years, senior defense officials said Sunday in Baghdad.

Nice timing, huh?  Nice lack of attribution too.  

The “defense officials,” according to Partlow…

…said they decided to talk about the Iranian-made weapons and the detention of Iranian operatives in Iraq because they are increasingly concerned about the number of casualties caused by these weapons.

But the defense officials didn’t decide to be identified, because, well…

The officials said they would speak only on the condition of anonymity so the trio’s explosives expert and analyst, who would normally not speak to reporters, could provide more information. The analyst’s exact job description was not revealed to reporters. Reporters’ cell phones were taken before the briefing, and the officials did not allow reporters to record or videotape the proceedings.

This is raw sewage.  Three “unnamed Defense officials” got a perfectly timed message out, one based on the opinion of an analyst whose credentials are uncertified and unchallenged, and echoed by media “professionals” who have no idea whether the analyst knows what he’s talking about because they don’t know what the hell he’s talking about themselves.

If the “defense officials” in Baghdad had real “proof” of the allegations against Iran, why would they wish to remain anonymous?  These guys aren’t whistle blowers.  They’re part of the Rovewellian bull feather generator, trying to pretend like they’re not.  

The likes of Joshua Partlow and the Washington Post need to start standing up to these Machiavellian manipulators.  No more “unnamed officials” get to toss the company line into the echo chamber.  

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Commander Jeff Huber, U.S. Navy (Retired) writes from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Read his commentaries at Pen and Sword.