Tuesday, May 04, 2010

What AP's Faisal Shahzad Story Doesn't Report

Let's see now. This lengthy Associated Press story about the terrorist who tried to set Times Square ablaze tells us that his name is Faisal Shahzad. He is a naturalized American citizen. He has a wife living in Pakistan. He lived in "a mixed-race, working-class neighborhood of multi-family homes in Connecticut's largest city." And he was caught trying to escape to Dubai.

But though no less than that eight reporters contributed to the story (and who knows how many editors had to clear it), why are we not told where Faisal Shahzad himself comes from or what his religious associations are? Indeed, the words "Arab," "Islam" and "Muslim" are conspicuously absent from the story altogether.

My, my. Even with the dangers from Muslim jihadists growing worse by the day, the mainstream media continues a bizarre and irresponsible version of political correctness -- a version that dares not state the plainest and most relevant facts for fear of giving offense.

But oh how different would the news coverage be if the terrorist in question went to a Baptist church or had ever attended a Christian college, pro-life meeting or tea party.