Who You Going To Believe? Apparently Not Associated Press.

Grocery store tabloid-like story puzzler.

An Associated Press story by Steven Gutkin with an August 7, 2008 Jerusalem printed in many U. S. newspapers exaggerates, misrepresents, and contorts important facts. The story says “Israel is building up its strike capability… has purchased 90 F-16I fighter planes, and will receive 11 more by the end of the year.” The story also reports Israel has bought two more Dolphin class nuclear missile capable submarines from Germany.

It turn out this is old news. Israel has indeed taken delivery of 90 F-16I fighter planes so far and they can carry enough fuel to reach Iran without refueling, and Israeli will indeed receive 11 more by the end of next year. But, the first F16I deliveries starting in 2004 and they have been delivered at a rate of two per month since. Also Israel did buy two Dolphin submarines in 2006 from Germany reportedly capable of firing nuclear-armed warheads - in addition to the three it already had.

Gutkin also says “Israeli intelligence is active inside Iranian territory” as if that were news.

Despite a bellowing headline “Israel mulls military action for Iran nukes” the story is not substantive but simply sensationalism and should be on the Opinion page and not in a news report.

There is nothing new here and Associated Press editors should be ashamed of its portrayal otherwise. Local newspapers look silly or worse for printing such claptrap. What is unclear is what was the purpose of Mr. Gutkin’s report from Jerusalem and who if anyone is watching the Associate Press and local newspaper editors desk.