Iraq Study Group Settles Debate Over 'Negative' War Coverage

Iraq Study Group Settles Debate Over 'Negative' War Coverage: "Iraq Study Group Settles Debate Over 'Negative' War Coverage"

Published: December 06, 2006 7:10 PM ET

NEW YORK: For years now, the debate has raged: Does the press overstate the level of violence in Iraq and ignore the overall positive aspect of the U.S. involvment? The Iraq Study Group report today, in its main claim that the situation in Iraq is now "grave" and "deteriorating" would seem to offer a clue to the answer, but more specific details -- providing a "slam dunk" (if we may use that phrase) on the side of the press -- are found in the Intelligence section of the report near its end, starting on page 93.

There we learn, bluntly, that "there is significant underreporting of the violence in Iraq" by the U.S. military. "The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases," the report continues.

Looking at one day, the report found undercounting of violent attacks by more than 1000 percent.