Misdirection

What it looks like is someone put up the wrong picture and link on their Tweet.  But then, The Times replaced that Tweet with this one:


The picture and link are right now, but check the slight change in wording of the Tweet.  Changing "misdirected" to "errant" makes an entirely different meaning, from an act of neglect, carelessness or even volition, to a passive problem that doesn't imply any blame on the part of the attackers.  Errant missiles stray of their own accord.

But, The Times still has this older Tweet up suggesting that "misdirected" was the more accurate descriptor.




Lots of people read only the headlines - we all do it some times - so the change of terms is important.

The United States’ accidental bombing of Syrian troops over the weekend has put it on the defensive, undercutting American efforts to reduce violence in the civil war and open paths for humanitarian relief.

[...]

American pilots thought they were aiming at Islamic State jihadists but instead killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers, according to the Russian military.

[...]

The United States had thought that if a deal to ease hostilities in Syria, struck by Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart in Geneva nine days ago, fell apart, it would reveal Russia’s duplicity in the war, in which Moscow has supported the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.



  NYT

It's bound to fall apart if we do this kind of shit.

The errant bombing, for which the administration apologized to Mr. Assad, also gave both the Russians and the Syrian government a propaganda bonanza: Russia suggested it was a result of an American reluctance to share intelligence, and the Assad government said, contrary to all other evidence, that the United States was trying to protect the Islamic State.

The Times feels the need to add "contrary to all other evidence." Most Americans didn't need that. On the other hand, it could be well argued that there is SOME evidence, considering the fact that we arm and support "moderate" Islamist fighters.

“The biggest judgment they need to make is to stop Assad from bombing people indiscriminately, which he continues to do,” Mr. Kerry said.

Yes, we didn't bomb Syrian troops indiscriminately. We bombed them "errantly". And we never bomb civilians indiscriminately. Never. We're very discriminating when we do that. Double taps included.

“The humanitarian assistance is supposed to be flowing,” Mr. Kerry said. “The regime once again is blocking it. So Russia’s client, Russia’s supported friend, is the single biggest blockade to the ability to move forward here.”

Well, and errant bombings.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.