"Activists said the blast occurred after rebels had fired rockets at
southern neighborhoods that are heavily populated with Alawites, the
religious sect to which Mr. Assad belongs. Alawites play a leading role
in his security forces." Whenever there are stories about indiscriminate attacks or car bombs against `Alawites, the New York Times now dutifully inserts this sentence, by way of justification: "Alawites play a leading role
in his security forces." So would the New York Times use the same methodology if an Arab group were to attack Jews? Would the New York Times add by way of justification this sentence: "Jews play a leading role in Israeli security forces"?