Another Head Scratching Instance of Media Shortcomings

This one is from Altercation, Eric Alterman's blog on MSNBC

Bob, a reader from Paoli, PA writes in:

"Dear Eric,

"Here is what I believe to be both what could be taken to be proof of an already existing 'credibility gap' with respect to statements by the military about events in Iraq, and a prime example of reporting which refuses to confront this Administration and its spokespersons (military and otherwise). The following are two exact quotes from a AP story reprinted on USA Today's Web site under the headline 'US Launches Second Phase in Fallujah'
Third Paragraph

"'Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski, commander of the 1st Marine Division, also said 69 American service members and 34 Iraqi security forces had been wounded since the assault began Monday against insurgents in the Sunni Muslim stronghold.'

"Eighth Paragraph

"'The Fallujah campaign has sent a stream of American wounded to the military's main hospital in Europe. Planes carrying just over 100 bloodied and broken troops were arriving Thursday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. They join 125 wounded soldiers flown there already this week.'

"If 125 wounded soldiers had already been flown to Germany this week from the Fallujah campaign, why wasn't Maj. Gen. Natonski challenged on the numbers he was giving out? Even more astoundingly, why isn't there even an explanation in the article itself of the rather astounding factual disconnect between material just a few inches apart?

"I have to admit that the thing which most upset me about the outcome of outcome of the election is the knowledge that I am going to be living in this kind of horrible NeverNeverLand for another four years. God help us."

Excellent, excellent points.