Rumsfeld: Situation in Iraq 'exaggerated' by media

[AGENDA21]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged Tuesday the potential for civil war in Iraq but slammed the media for "exaggerated" reports about the security situation following recent violence between religious factions.

Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon that he thought the news coverage since the February 22 bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in Iraq had been filled with inaccurate information that would inflame the situation there.

He based his comments on remarks made Friday by U.S. Army Gen. George Casey, the top-ranking U.S. military official in Iraq.

"From what I've seen thus far, much of the reporting in the U.S. and abroad has exaggerated the situation, according to General Casey," Rumsfeld said. "The number of attacks on mosques, as he pointed out, had been exaggerated. The number of Iraqi deaths had been exaggerated."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/07/rumsfeld.iraq/index.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Actually he added that he knows Al-Qaeda is planting bad news.

He said he can't draw a straight line from Al Qaeda media manipulation committees to the stories he sees but, well, it's obvious what's *really* going on.

Subtle. Real subtle.

[shadowknows69]

2. What media?

They barely show us anything of the war. we get daily death counts (maybe) and the bombing of the day report. Then 5 talking heads telling us things are going fine.

[Sensitivity]

3. These guys must be broiught to justice eventually

[Is It Only Me]

4. This is right up there with "Last Throes"

Janeane Garaofalo was right. Whatever they say, just think of what the exact opposite thing is, and there's your truth.

[babylonsister]

5. Welcome to DU, and it's not only you! Glad you found this

port in this major, dangerous storm! :hi:

[Just Me]

6. Yep. Welcome to DU!!!

A delegation of Iraqi women just yesterday reported the exact opposite of what Rummy asserted. Rummy is a pathological liar and war criminal. He's authorized torture, suspension of constitutional and international rights, overt propaganda, secret gulags, and he defrauds the American people while exploiting the national treasure on a daily basis.

He is a criminal.