Remarks: This AP story is a classic example of using twisted language to lessen the impact of such a grave situation. Read their first few paragraphs of their version and see if you think their language, emphasis, attribution and other journalistic elements do this story any justice. Even MSNBC’s headline for this AP story, “U.S. airstrike on rebels reportedly kills civilians” – which was the best I found – makes the assumption that the strike targeted insurgents. But no one can top the headline chosen by the Belfast Telegraph – where the newsroom is apparently a thought-free zone: “45 civilians, 13 Iraqi fighters killed in Baghdad airstrike.” The version on the ultra-progressive London Guardian declared “U.S. says 13 rebels killed in strike.” –BD