Calm does not equate with downplaying. The title implies someone said the whole country is calm. It's an obviously false claim. Accurate reporting requires accurate titles. I stated the article itself seemed a fair assessment. Unfortunately many people read little more than headlines. That's why accurate ones are important. Bush and Allawi's comments are statements of opinion which can be argued with, but not categorically claimed as false. It's much easier to paint people as liars when you put obviously false words in their mouth.

What Allawi thinks of as calm does not necessarily equate to what Americans equate with as calm. It's his viewpoint based on his experience not ours. He clearly indicated the state of teh country varies from region to region, not some blanket calm statement as the title implies. Bush's comments are also related to the situation in Iraq not our own. That said I think the situation is deteriorating, but do not trust press reports as being accurate due to many obvious story shading techniques such as that used in the title of your story. These are easy to spot for someone skeptical of both sides.

It's a misleading title Don plain and simple.

Regards,
Mark