The ap is at it again

This story was gleaned from the ap and 'rooters' on the battle in a mountainous corner of Kunar province in Afghanistan, and illustrates 'newsthink' in the so-called mainstream media.

(For a much better diagnosis and discussion read Wretchard here under Missing Recon Team).

A missing team of 4 special forces men and the loss of a helicopter with 16 aboard attempting the team's extraction is seen by the newsies as a "stinging loss" to American interests, apparently, and the sense of the story could lead a perceptive reader to expect the Taliban to shortly overthrow the US, Afghan and Pakistani authorities and once more rule their former domain. But don't count on it.

As you read the story pay close attention to the final paragraph. Notice the word "unprecedented"? Is this an appropriate or verifiable use of the word in this story? I don't think so. Now look at the final sentences. Seems to me a body count reflecting a 10 to 1 disparity in losses is much more significant than the deaths reported here. Not less tragic, just more significant.