When last we actually heard any substantial news reporting about Iraq the line was about how "the surge" had reduced violence...and it's effect upon ice cream shops or some such nonsense.

That was sometime in the Fall.

And then...poof, the war occupation, it disappeared.

I know it's vitally important that all news be focused upon a prominent governmental office holder liking to pay for sex -- because THAT'S never happened before and all. I also know there's a Presidential Election on so it's vitally important that the candidates positions be covered for sixty seconds a day and the horse race aspect be for the remaining 23 hours, 59 minutes.

But the occupation still rages, people still die, and $12 billion a month still gets spent over there.

And yet, the occupation is not discussed...at all. And somehow the end result is this:

Twenty-eight percent of the public is aware that nearly 4,000 U.S. personnel have died in Iraq over the past five years, while nearly half thinks the death tally is 3,000 or fewer...

The survey, by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, found that public awareness of developments in the Iraq war has dropped precipitously since last summer, as the news media have paid less attention to the conflict. In earlier surveys, about half of those asked about the death tally responded correctly.

And it's really unfortunate because up until now, the media has done such a fine job on covering Iraq have they not?

After all, just a few days ago McClatchy reported the Pentagon had authorized an exhaustive study of Iraq Saddam-era documents and the report was coming out having found no relationship between his government and Al Qaeda. But then the Bush Administration decided to just be wankers and not allow the study to be released on-line (it was supposed to be released yesterday). Now, you have to actually write and ask for it and eventually they will send you a CD-ROM ["how does late January 2009 work for you?"]

I'm sure this was given a prominent mention on all of the news broadcasts last night because even our media could see what was afoot. Right?

(video posted because Juan Cole is right)