Spinning a new way forward

The president's new way forward... better, more extensive, military spin.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday 93 rebels were killed and 57 captured in a 10-day operation against al Qaeda-linked insurgents northeast of Baghdad.

In an unusually detailed video news conference broadcast to journalists in Baghdad from Diyala province, Colonel David Sutherland said Iraqi troops had fought well in the operation and were improving their capabilities every day. [...]

"Since I've been here we have not conducted an operation ... against a group of this size that were willing to fight us out in the open," Sutherland said. "This operation shows ... there's partnership between Iraqi army and Coalition forces."

I'm not saying this is not some kind of victory. I'm not saying there is no budding partnership. All I'm saying is that the "unusually detailed video news conference" and the positive "partnership" spin are tactics used before by this image over substance presidency* to make it seem like progress is being made when in actuality the situation continues to deteriorate.

*And I would not be surprised if the accomplishments cited today are mentioned in tomorrow's SOTU address. I would not be surprised at all.