E&P: Tony Snow Disputes Press Reports on Bush's 'Frustration'

[DeepModem Mom]

Editor&Publisher: Tony Snow Disputes Press Reports on Bush's 'Frustration'
By E&P Staff
Published: August 16, 2006, updated Thursday

NEW YORK Generals, pundits, and members of Congress may see shades of grey in the situation, but Tony Snow, the White House Press Secretary, has no such doubts. "There is not a civil war going on" in Iraq, he declared Wednesday in his daily meeting with reporters.

As for the upsurge in brutal killings and bombings that left more than 3,400 civilians dead last month, Snow characterized this as "a number of sectarian violence operations going on." The New York Times reports Thursday that the number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose in July to the highest monthly total of the war.

Snow also took issue with New York Times and Los Angeles Times stories on Wednesday depicting President Bush as growing "frustrated" with lack of appreciation for U.S. efforts on the part of Iraqis....

***

SNOW: One other note: A number of newspapers today had -- or a couple, The New York Times and L.A. Times -- had pieces about the President's meeting the other day with Iraq scholars. Just a couple of nits to pick with the Times piece -- and I have spoken with the notetaker in the meeting, I was in the meeting, I've talked to others in the meeting and I've talked to all four scholars today, and all, to a person, take exception to a verb or variations of that verb that appear a number of times at the top of the piece, which is that the President is "frustrated"-- he's "frustrated" that the new Iraqi government and the Iraqi people have not shown greater support for the American mission.

All the participants said that that did not reflect the meeting they attended....

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_di...