The AP sucks

This story is typical of AP. It's riddled with word choices that convey a clear slant to the story.

Iraqi officials said Saturday they are considering new measures to protect voters in the Jan. 30 national election, including a three-day, nationwide ban on driving to discourage car-bombings. Fresh clashes broke out in the troubled northern city of Mosul, where most election officials have fled their jobs in fear.

"Troubled city"? The first paragraph tells you where the story is headed.

U.S. and Iraqi officials fear a surge in insurgent attacks as the election approaches. Many members of the Sunni Arab minority are expected to boycott the balloting, and Sunni rebel groups have threatened to attack polling stations.

Neither US nor Iraqi officials "fear" a surge in attacks. They expect a surge in attacks (for reasons that should be obvious to a reporter, if one was actually paying attention.)

To prevent that, an Iraqi Cabinet minister told reporters that authorities are considering a number of special measures, including restrictions on the movement of private vehicles, and possible security cordons around polling stations.

You just contradicted yourself. If they fear attacks, then they would be hiding, not planning to prevent them.

Underscoring the security threat, fresh clashes broke out Saturday in Mosul between U.S. troops and insurgents after the rebels blasted an American convoy.

After the blast, insurgents opened fire on American troops, who then raided a nearby agricultural research station looking for the assailants.

A U.S. Army OH58 Kiowa helicopter made an emergency landing in Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, after receiving ground fire. The two crew members escaped injury, the command said.

Where's the context? What happened? Were Americans hurt? Where the "insurgents" captured or killed? Without context it just seems like everything is bad — which is exactly what the reporter wants you to think.

You can read the rest if you want, but it's just more context-free violence from every place they can find it, leaving you with the impression that there's nothing but bad in Iraq.