In their headline CNN says: U.S. ties Iranian leader to bombs killing U.S. troops. If you read the report you have to accept so many unsupported claims to get there that I have a bridge I what to talk to you about as soon as you get your fortune from Nigeria.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — The U.S. military Sunday presented evidence it says shows an elite Iranian force under the command of Iran’s supreme leader is behind bombings that have killed at least 170 U.S. troops in Iraq.

U.S. officials have made general statements in the past year about Iranian involvement in Iraq, but haven’t provided many details.

The charges came at a Baghdad briefing by a senior defense official, a senior defense analyst and an explosives expert, all of whom asked to remain unnamed.

Juan Cole has a slightly different headline: NYT Falls for Bogus Iran Weapons Charges. The professor looks at the casualty reports and says no way, uh-uh, not even close.

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Below I thought I was nitpicking the BBC on their translation. It is worse than that.

The BBC translation from below:

“This is very dangerous. Nobody feels secure anymore because nobody can hide behind international law.

This is nourishing an arms race with the desire of countries to get nuclear weapons.”

Munich Conference on Security Policy translation:

“And of course this is extremely dangerous. It results in the fact that no one feels safe. I want to emphasise this: no one feels safe! Because no one can feel that international law is like a stone wall that will protect them. Of course such a policy stimulates an arms race.

The force’s dominance inevitably encourages a number of countries to acquire weapons of mass destruction.”

BBC quote in Russian:

“Это, конечно, крайне опасно и ведет к тому, что никто уже не чувствует себя в безопасности, потому что никто не может спрятаться за международным правом, как за каменной стеной, – отметил российский лидер. – Такая политика является, конечно, катализатором гонки вооружений. Доминирование фактора силы неизбежно подпитывает тягу ряда стран к обладанию оружием массового уничтожения”.

The BBC job cuts have really affected the quality of their translation services. Putin does not mention nuclear weapons, he specifically refers to WMDs: “оружия массового уничтожения”. The official translation is a bit literal for my tastes, but that beats the heavy paraphrasing of the BBC version. Wars have started over less.

I noticed in the coverage of the Air Pelosi non-event no one mentioned that when the media flies on government aircraft, like Air Force One, they get charged for the ride. If Speaker Pelosi brings guests, they are going to get a bill – that’s how the system works, just ask the White House press corps.

Oh, if she brings Jack Murtha, he doesn’t get charged. Retired military can fly “space available” on military aircraft for free. It’s a benefit.

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A weekend feature of Why Now.