plain propaganda language

Ms. Barnard, yet again: "Coalition members and their supporters were riding high, feeling that they had come across as the more statesmanlike of the two parties."  Statesmanlike? Who on earth do you talk to besides the Free Syrian Army spokespeople?  There was such demoralization in their ranks especially that the appearance of Jabra (wildly unpopular among Syrian opposition people, inside and in exile, and not only because he is seen as a mere puppet of Saudi Arabia's government) came across as out of synch.