From a NYT headline
today
~
Taliban Rebels Still Menacing Afghan South
By CARLOTTA GALL
"Four years after they were ousted, the Taliban's presence across the south is bigger and more menacing than ever"
.. more in the body, but I ask you.. What is wrong with this picture? English, logic, and press-speak wise?
This headline and sub-line struck me as a little mini-version of the black is white world the press has become fond of dancing around.
Just parse this thing..
From a NYT headline
today
~
Taliban Rebels Still Menacing Afghan South
By CARLOTTA GALL
"Four years after they were ousted, the Taliban's presence across the south is bigger and more menacing than ever"
.. more in the body, but I ask you.. What is wrong with this picture? English, logic, and press-speak wise?
This headline and sub-line struck me as a little mini-version of the black is white world the press has become fond of dancing around.
Just parse this thing..
While I was writing this diary, the lead line hopped over on the NYT page, losing the precious pretzel logic of the sub-heading..
However, four paragraphs in we read..
"In fact, four years after the Taliban were ousted from power by the American military, their presence is bigger and more menacing than ever, say police and government officials, village elders, farmers and aid workers across southern Afghanistan"
Shouldn't an honest editor ask the first obvious questions for this story? When exactly were they 'ousted'.. and how can they be bigger and stronger.. or at least address when they 'came back'..?
Well, to be fair - this little para seems to answer part of the illogical tale:
"The Taliban are in the villages, among the people," said Ali Seraj, a descendant of Afghanistan's royal family and native of Kandahar, who contends that the government is losing the hearts and minds of the ordinary people.
Who would think to look in the villages, among the people.. let's hope we don't have to save too many villages..