The blogosphere “looks a lot like what Free Speech advocates call the marketplace of ideas,” says Kelly McBride of Poynter Institute in a 9/16/04 Poynter Online Ethics Journal article, “Journalism in the Age of Blogs.”

No, it’s “anarchy,” says Chi Trib man. ed. James O’Shea. Whose side is Fussbudget O’Shea on, anyhow?

I like to render close reading to noosepaper stories. It helps me understand what I don’t understand. Join me in this partial questioning of Chi Trib’s Oct. 7 p-1 story, “Iraq in transition: Report on Iraq arms undercuts president,” both as to sense and completeness, keeping in mind that the darn thing is done on deadline and in a newsroom climate that operates out of its own conventional wisdom:

IRAQ IN TRANSITION
Report on Iraq arms undercuts president
No evidence of WMD, terror link
By Stephen J. Hedges
Washington Bureau
October 7, 2004

WASHINGTON — Drawing on an investigation that included interviews with Saddam Hussein and his former top aides, the government’s chief weapons inspector has concluded that Iraq did not possess chemical, biological and nuclear weapons–or programs to build them–for more than a decade before the March 2003 U.S. invasion–a direct contradiction of President Bush’s contention that the existence of such weapons justified the war. [rather, of his claim there were such weapons; he did make that claim, didn’t he?]
In a report of nearly 1,000 pages, inspector Charles Duelfer said the Iraqi leader decided years ago to abandon active programs to develop and deploy banned weapons of mass destruction, but he sought to retain the capacity to quickly reconstitute those programs once United Nations scrutiny of his regime diminished. [but etc. graf belongs in lead? why not?]

But that work to reconstitute them had not begun by 2003, Duelfer said. And in the case of a program to develop nuclear weapons, Iraq’s capacity to renew that effort had in fact greatly eroded, he said.

“What we have found on the ground is at a substantial variation from . . . the prewar assessments,” Duelfer told members of the U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee on Wednesday. [assessments by whom? vigorously or otherwise contested by Dems, including Kerry?]
Duelfer’s report notes that postwar inspections in Iraq have led to the conclusion that Iraq destroyed its long-range missiles and militarily significant chemical and biological weapons stocks in 1991 and 1992. [postwar, yes. but prewar?]

Iraq’s nuclear weapons program effectively ended in 1991, the report states, but the inspectors did find “a limited number of post-1995 activities that would have aided the reconstitution of the nuclear weapons program once sanctions were lifted.” [Oh? Interesting]

Had it been allowed to proceed, Duelfer’s report states, Iraq could have restarted its chemical and biological weapons programs within months. [Should go higher up?] The nuclear effort, however, would have taken [also been started? been completed?] far longer, perhaps years.

Duelfer also told the committee that his investigation, conducted by 1,200 members of the U.S. Iraq Survey Group, found no evidence that Iraq had shared weapons technology or know-how with terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, another frequent prewar danger raised by administration officials. [and contested by Kerry et al.?]
On Wednesday, Bush again suggested that Iraq could have shared weapons with terrorists. [he had previously merely suggested this?]

. . . more more more . . .

Today’s Chi Trib has excellent editorial about the UN’s “trademark fecklessness” as demonstrated in its standing by while 50,000 and more are slaughtered in Sudan. “The bugles of global impotence again sound retreat from a battle never joined,” etc. It’s the same “world body” that would have let Saddam continue in office but for alleged “unilateralism” by us and the coalition.

Do not count the Trib out while such editorials run.

Chi Trib had hot news the other day (Tues 9/21): “Kerry: Bush failed in Iraq.” This is newspaper as morning shower or breakfast, as Marshall McLuhan termed it many years ago. Or is it news to Trib’s news editors that Kerry says Bush is failing in Iraq? And they wonder why circulation is falling.

On the other hand, look at what Instapundit.com had at that very moment, sans links, which in some cases are needed to explain various short statements that nonetheless beat “Kerry: Bush failed,” presented by Chi Trib as if it’s news:

September 21, 2004
IRAQI BLOGGER ALI RESPONDS TO ROBERT NOVAK:
What does Mr. Novak know about Iraq and the decision makers in the USA? If his information about how decision makers in America are thinking, is similar to his information about Iraq, then I guess we are safe and there�s no need to worry.
Read the whole thing. I’m with Ali on this one.
posted at 08:14 AM by Glenn Reynolds
AND WE WANT THESE GUYS IN IRAQ?
Twelve French soldiers on peacekeeping duties in Ivory Coast have been arrested in connection with a bank theft there last week.
The troops had been assigned to protect a branch of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and were charged with stealing $120,000 (100,000 euros).
French military spokesman Colonel Henry Aussavy said the accused soldiers were being sent home to face French justice.
More than 4,000 French troops are serving alongside UN peacekeepers.
Sigh.
posted at 08:09 AM by Glenn Reynolds
WHERE NEXT FOR THE BLOGOSPHERE? Pejman Yousefzadeh has some thoughts.
posted at 08:07 AM by Glenn Reynolds
ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR DIPLOMACY?
Syria’s ambassador to Washington said yesterday his country’s forces in Lebanon will begin a major redeployment toward their own border this morning.
The diplomat also said Syrian and U.S. troops will partake in joint security operations along the Syrian-Iraqi border, although State Department officials contradicted that claim.
“This is official,” said Imad Mustapha, Syria’s ambassador to Washington, speaking by telephone from the Syrian capital. “Tuesday morning there will be a major redeployment of Syrian forces in Lebanon toward the border.” . . .
A senior State Department official disputed the ambassador’s statement last night.
“We are looking for Syria to take certain action to protect the border. That action has not been taken yet. We’ll be working to improve Syria’s performance,” the official said. “At this point, that does not include joint actions with American troops.”
Hmm. Stay tuned.
posted at 08:06 AM by Glenn Reynolds
TOM MAGUIRE is checking Joe Wilson’s travel schedule.
posted at 07:32 AM by Glenn Reynolds
MICKEY KAUS IS ON FIRE, with posts on everything from RatherGate to polling.
posted at 07:29 AM by Glenn Reynolds
(more, more more)

Rush Limbaugh picked up the CBS-2 story (by Mike Flannery). Watch for it in tomorrow’s papers; that’s the usual cycle.