Today, exactly eight months after Commissioner Paul Tagliabue declared Tampa Bay the winners of Superbowl XXXVII . . .

You don't often see that line, and there is a good reason for it: no one disputes that Tampa Bay won Superbowl XXXVII so you don't need to cite Tagliabue's declaration. Media outlets just say, "since Tampa Bay won Superbowl XXXVII . . . " So why is this line in every story about casualties in Iraq:

Since May 1, when President Bush declared an end to major combat operations

The Washington Post did it today, but they are not alone. It's everywhere: the Australian Age, CNN, the Charlotte Observer, and even the fair and balanced (TM) FoxNews. Why? Major combat operations did end about that time, and I'm not sure anyone disputes it. US soldiers are still being shot at, but by guerrillas with ak-47s, not regulars with tanks.

Come on, guys, save the ink, and say it with me, "Since major combat operations ended on May 1 . . . " Is that so hard?
- posted by Tom Sawyer @ 8:58 AM