Not Fit to Print (part four)

Some news events from the last couple of days that didn't make the cut:

Palestinians Fire on UN Team. This was serious enough to get Palestinian lackey Kofi Annan teed off--but not his counterpart in the media, the NY Times.

The incident, which took place in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon on Wednesday, was reported by the wire services, and a good story appeared yesterday in the New York Sun. The Sun reported that "armed Palestinian Arabs fired yesterday on a U.N. team that was sent to Lebanon to verify a Security Council resolution aimed at ending Syria's occupation."

According to the Sun, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan "cited in a recent report Lebanese sources who have said that Syrian intelligence and operatives linger in areas controlled by Hezbollah and Palestinian Arabs. After being urged by France and America to do so, the Security Council issued a statement yesterday expressing concern that some provisions in resolution 1559 have not been met. The council's statement acknowledged that some progress has been made."

Bush Extends Sanctions on Syria. According to an AP report, "President Bush on Thursday renewed economic sanctions on Syria implemented a year ago, saying its government still supports terrorism and is undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq."

Syria Ignores U.S. Requests on Iraqi Terrorists. "Syria has ignored U.S. demands to stop foreign fighters from crossing the border into Iraq and 'terrorists' operating from Syrian territory, a top U.S. commander said.

"We have provided Syrians with very specific information and asked them to help in securing the Iraq-Syrian borders to stop foreign fighters from crossing into Iraq," Gen. John Abizaid, commander of the U.S. forces in the Gulf, was quoted as telling Arabic-language Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai Al-Aam.

"More importantly, we asked them to cooperate with us in chasing terrorists operating out of Syria, in addition to Iraqi Baathists present in Syria who are trying to organize military operations inside Iraq.

"We have been very specific and clear in our demands. Unfortunately, all these demands fell on Syrian deaf ears, and they did not respond to any of it."

"Abizaid said Syrians must prove that they are serious in helping Iraq achieve stability."

The above story, from wire service reports, appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Not a word concerning any of the above appeared in The Times--not even as "briefs" or as segments of larger stories.

Israel suspending an officer for his role in a shooting incident--that, of course, makes the grade. Palestinians intimidating UN workers--seriously enough to rouse Kofi Annan and the Security Council? Syrians turning a blind eye to Iraqi terrorists murdering Iraqis and Americans? Naah. Not fit to print.

Yet another example of bias-by-omission at the Times.