In Case You Haven't Noticed...

In case you haven't noticed, several sites have pointed out that the description of the insurgents in Iraq has morphed. They are all, it seems, Al Quada now, which is, of course, ridiculous. The credulous press dutifully copies down the name-change claims from the military spokespersons and Bushies though. This is in the face of the by now well-known and often cited confusion in the minds of the American puble about Iraqi involvement in 9/11.; most Americans still incorrectly make the connection. Glenn summarizes and calls bullshit:

That the Bush administration, and specifically its military commanders, decided to begin using the term "Al Qaeda" to designate "anyone and everyeone we fight against or kill in Iraq" is obvious. All of a sudden, every time one of the top military commanders describes our latest operations or quantifies how many we killed, the enemy is referred to, almost exclusively now, as "Al Qaeda."
But what is even more notable is that the establishment press has followed right along, just as enthusiastically. I don't think the New York Times has published a story about Iraq in the last two weeks without stating that we are killing "Al Qaeda fighters," capturing "Al Qaeda leaders," and every new operation is against "Al Qaeda."

What is so amazing about this new rhetorical development -- not only from our military, but also from our "journalists" -- is that, for years, it was too shameless and false even for the Bush administration to use. Even at the height of their propaganda offensives about the war, the furthest Bush officials were willing to go was to use the generic term "terrorists" for everyone we are fighting in Iraq, as in: "we cannot surrender to the terrorists by withdrawing" and "we must stay on the offensive against terrorists."

Why can't the press, even the NYT, get this right? It's important and clearly the result of just another concerted PR effort from the Bushies (or is it Cheneys). Aren't the titans and experts of the MSM tired and ashamed of being manipulated and being made fools? And if not, why not?