Two newspapers, one event

The LAT front page headline this morning said, "Redeploy troops, say GOP senators." The subhead read, "Given Warner's and Lugar's clout, their Iraq proposal -- though not a mandate -- is a new obstacle for Bush." Regarding the same story, the Orange County Register's front page blip said, "GOP senators push new plan." Obviously, the Register thought the story wasn't headline news. The Register's judgement was better.

The two newspapers report the facts differently, too. The Register's story reports that the Warner/Lugar proposal would require the administration to submit plans for Iraq to Congress by October 16th and design them to go into effect by year end. The LAT claims the plan would require troop redeployment -- that's in the headline.

The LAT argues that President Bush had a Pyrrhic victory this week when he persuaded Congressional Republicans to wait for a September progress report before challenging his strategy. What that has to do with reporting the news is unclear. Obviously, the reporters thought it important to evaluate Bush's so-called victory, whether or not qualified to do so. Apparently, the editors agreed, for reasons that aren't clear.