The Sunday Express has run a story. In 18 hours this story has been picked up by by (according to Google) 129 other online media outlets, from the Voice of America to the Jerusalem Post to ... heck, even the Anchorage Daily News. It is gospel truth running a 110% mind-share in the press.
The Sunday Express ran a similar story. In three days that story was picked up by fewer than 20 online media outlets. It was gospel false running a 0% mind-share in the press, outside of France and Asia. I wrote about it here, the comments are especially fun. I should be euthenized is one of the best comments ever.
One story has US in-country G-2 not actually able to locate a particular pit-toilet, unless assisted by semi-friendly semi-unfriendly autonomous armed forces sharing the same area of operations. That story was obviously "wrong", as American military intelligence is above reproach and inerrant, at least by right-minded folks.
One story has US and UK remote intel assets actually able to locate a particular company-sized enemy unit operating in a fixed position. OK. Except two hours after the story broke there were "I'm not aware of" quotes from the spokesperson for Islamabad.
Woodrow Wllson, John Pershing, Pancho Villa and the Punitive Expedition, Fall 1916 (an election year). 111,000 US troops in Chihuahua State. 10,000 American and 9,000 Mexican troops in Chihuahua City when he captured the prison and the Carranza military barracks. In February 1917 General Pershing and his army had decided to call it quits and retreat back to the states without catching Villa, or engaging opposing forces. For a look at how November 1916 played out, in Red and Blue, see this. In April President Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
Posted by at February 22, 2004 10:23 AM | TrackBack