Everything you say is true and logical if the people in the press are honest and genuinely after the getting and reporting of the truth.
My take is, this is not a case of the Media being lazy (which many are), stupid (which some are), incompetent (which is possible) or in a feeding-frenzy (which is usual).
It is a case of this fitting their agendas nicely. So, they are feeding this story by aiding and abetting the liars and scoundrels who assert it. In other words, they are in collusion to destroy President Bush (whom they hate), our successful actions in Iraq (which they detest) and our overall War On Terror (which they don't believe is warranted).
Why? Because they are ideologically wont to do so. They have the means and also the advantage of being encouraged by the Democrats, which may as well be renamed the American Baathocrat Party. Remember, this is all the same crowd that stood by and defended the clintons and their criminality for eight long years.
It's in their nature, just as it is in a dog's nature to return to his own vomit.
I take it even further: the press has done their homework perfectly-they have found a focus group concept which creates the most confusion with the smallest amount of explanation.
I understand there are now TV commercials in some markets that whittle the 16 word video down to : The Iraqi's were trying to buy Uranium from Niger-thus effectively broadcasting the image of Bush as a complete liar.
The administration's response to this hokem is a curiously defensive consciousness-of-guilt rebuttal to the effect the speech was not relevant or the statement significant.
It is remarkable to watch the Democrats manufacture a complete lie from whole cloth into conventional wisdom while Republicans are unable to take a simple truth and defend it with any vigor or competence.
Truly this is the Age of Colliding Inanities.
Best regards,