Notice the difference in headlines and leads as the hours pass. First, we have this story:
Iranian president decries Israel as a “fake regime”
TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today renewed his criticism of Israel, calling it a “fake regime” that cannot continue to exist.“Some 60 years have passed since the end of World War II. Why should the people of Germany and Palestine pay now for a war in which the current generation was not involved?” Ahmadinejad said at a news conference.
“We say that this fake regime (Israel) cannot not logically continue to live,” he said.
The remarks by the hard-line leader came a day after interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged the international community to work against Iran’s nuclear program, saying Tehran’s ambitions threaten not only Israel but all of Western civilization.
Astonishingly, the AP thinks that saying a country “cannot logically continue to live” is considered “criticism” of that country. One would think one would more likely classify that as a “threat,” but then, one would not be an AP editor/reporter if one thought that.
Now, the udpated version. Again, see how the threat against Israel is diminished in importance.
Iran Hints at Exiting Nuclear Treaty
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hinted Monday that Iran was considering withdrawing from the worldwide Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and said he did not think the U.N. Security Council would impose sanctions on Iran.“Those who speak about sanctions would be damaged more” than Iran, he told a news conference. “But no particular event will happen, don’t worry.”
He also renewed his criticism of Israel, calling it a “fake regime” that cannot continue to exist. Israel has long identified Iran as its biggest threat, and these concerns have grown amid repeated calls by Ahmadinejad for Israel’s destruction.
“Some 60 years has passed since the end of World War II, why should the people of Germany and Palestine pay now for a war in which the current generation was not involved,” he said.
Notice how the full quote of the threat against Israel is now missing from the lead. It’s buried under the rubric of “other remarks” now.
Once again, AP spins the threat dial down when it comes to an enemy of Israel.