NYT article on Kerry's efforts to get an Iranian deal -most of commentary is that he is too obsessed [View all]

My problem with the article is that it is laced with editorializing. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/world/middleeast/kerry-is-pushing-for-agreement-in-iran-nuclear-talks.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=b-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

They also put it in context of legacy -- and completely ignore that the China and India claimate deals, Cuba and Afghanistan are pretty big deals. They also have unsupported by any facts statements - like saying that Tehran did not take seriously a Kerry comment that the US could walk out of the talks. It seems pertinent that within a few days there were new Iranian concessions on centrifuges.

This is really passive/aggressive coverage - with sharp barbs including ignoring Kerry's comment on Netanyahu being wrong on the interim agreement and focusing on Iraq and Kerry's vote. All the anonymous sources are twisted to diminish Kerry - even though most say nothing really negative about him personally. As to the observation that an agreement is more likely than at any time in the past -- that is written as if it is simply the state that exists -- giving neither Kerry or Obama (or Rouhani for that matter) credit.


The genuinely weird first paragraph reminds me a lot of their 2004 coverage - which called Kerry a "social loner" later defending the observation by noting that the reporter spoke to 20 plus friends the 60 year old still had that dated back to college. (Note also their huffiness that Kerry dares work with Zarif on the very day Netanyahu comes to the US to blow the deal up.)

Speaking of Netanyahu, I have NEVER seen the NYT, in the news section, note that Netanyahu is too focused on with Iran - even as he demonizes an agreement daily if not hourly.

To add to the dishonesty of the Times, given that the article is on Kerry's trip -- there is no mention of what he did today. Likely because it does not fit their agenda. Kerry spoke in Geneva and argued that Israel has been unfairly singled out. Here from the Israeli, Haaretz - http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/1.644960

Nor does the NYT seem to cover as fairly, Kerry's request that no one speak of the provisions while they are negotiating ( http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/1.644968 ) just as Netanyahu's aides are claiming they know more than Congress and arguing that they need to tell Congress (in public - of course) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.644888

The 2 Haaretz articles, read together, show why Netanyahu has no business giving that speech now in an open forum. To paraphrase 2004 rhetoric - this is the wrong speech, in the wrong place at the wrong time! What is disgusting is that Netanyahu, not Obama/Kerry are given the benefit of doubt in this situation concocted by Netanyahu.