Friday, February 15, 2013

When New York Times coins new phrases: on Syria

The headline:  "Syrian Rebels Claim Near Control of a Key Province..."  The story:  "The Syrian insurgency claimed on Thursday to have near-total control of a strategically important province..."  Now what is the difference between near-control and near-total control?  And how could be total control but qualified as "near"?  Syria coverage in the Times has become quite comical indeed.