"A World Made More Dangerous as Terrorism Spreads" is the title of the leading of the NYT's Week in Review section. A dramatic bold colored world map underneath it implies that"wildfires" spread around the world after 9/11. Only in one occasion does the accompanying text note that"Malaysia was a meeting place for Qaeda operatives (not terrorist, of course!) before 9/11". In other words, the text implies that before 9/11 there were no terror attacks or terrorists in Colombia, chechnia, Nepal or Kashmir, to mention a few of the"wildfires" the NYT blames on the war against terror.

This absurd deception goes even beyond what Jean Francis Revel in Anti-Americanism calls"a mechanism for reversing responsibility for crime." It is possible to argue that terrorism in Iraq (though not Iraqi sponsored terrorism) followed the overthrow of Saddam. It is not possible to argue that terrorism in Colombia, Chechnia, Nepal, Kashmir, Israel, Somalia, ect. began after 9/11 and, hence, are the result of the war on terror. Yet, that is precisely the impression Don Van Natta's article seeks to give.

Isn't it sad that it is the NYT which is helping to define journalistic objectivity down.

By the way, lets remember what NYT does not want us to notice:

1. Al Qaeda no longer produces more terrorists in Afghanistan than the CIA/FBI produces antiterrorists as it did until 9/11

2. That following years of growing political power Islamists have lost power in both Malaysia and Indonesia in recent elections. Algeria had elections and the Islamists did not win.

3. A public opinion poll conducted by the BBC to gauge mood of Iraqi populace found:

a. Only 17% of the Iraqis considered attacks on coalition forces acceptable - 80% considered them unacceptable.

b. 96% considered attacks on Iraqi policemen unacceptable. And I believe a similar number opposed other types of terrorist attacks.

c. 80% of the Iraqis want a democratic form of government. Only 20% want an Islamic government.

d. 52% believe the war was justified and 70% are optimistic about the future.

Yes, mistakes have been made. Only those who fail to act, fail to make them. But far from frightening the rest of the world, the terrorist attacks strengthen their spine. For having decided that it is too dangerous to strike the US, Al Qaeda goes after its relatively weaker allies. That diminishes the ability of those allies to remain"free riders."

We shall overcome -