Media Bias: A Textbook Example

A December 8th Associated Press article posted on the ABC News web site offers a textbook example of media bias in action. The article summarizes an interview with the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Turki bin al-Faisal. The second paragraph quotes Prince Turki as follows.

Asked whether the war in Iraq made the world less safe, Turki said even if the United States had not invaded, global terrorism would have continued. "Going into Iraq may have accentuated or accelerated that process, but I don't think it is the reason why we are having bombs in London or in Saudi Arabia or wherever," he said.

(emphasis added-DD)

So, basically, Prince Turki believes that the Iraq war has not been an important factor in fostering the spread of terrorism, and that the terrorists would be attacking us anyway.

Now, how did AP/ABC choose to spin his comments? The headline says it all:

Saudi Official: War in Iraq Sparked Terror


Considering that AP clearly had their mind already made up, one wonders why they actually bothered doing the interview at all.