But how many reporters are on the scene?

This AP story ran in both the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the London Guardian

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - The Bush administration is sending 150,000 pounds of medical supplies to quake-ravaged Iran in a military airlift, government officials said Saturday.

I note the credit to the Bush admin vs. "the US". Guess the AP's first-line editors were off for Christmas.

Oops. The Holidays, I mean.

The first round of airlift aid is launching from Kuwait. It's a good thing we were near by and ready, eh Osama? Must have been the Will of Allah.

But seriously... this is one of those events where you're truly proud to serve. Though arguably not the mission of the military it’s hard not to swell a bit with pride when you're in the service of a nation that can do this sort of thing on short order, and does it.

Now can someone explain this obsessively bizarre coverage from CNN?

The flights are the first U.S. military flights into Iran since an elite force tried to rescue U.S. hostages there in April 1980. That mission ended in a fiery crash in a remote part of the country known afterward as Desert One.

Two U.S. military C-130 planes landed at Kerman Airport Sunday morning, about 120 miles from Bam, airport officials said. A third plane was expected to follow shortly, with at least two other flights arriving later.

Operation Desert One was a failed, top-secret mission designed to rescue 66 hostages held in the capital, Tehran.

Mechanical problems in Iran's Great Salt Desert caused the mission to be aborted. As one of six helicopters departed, it crashed into a C-130 cargo plane, causing an explosion that killed eight servicemen.

The U.S. did not try a second rescue attempt, and the hostages were eventually released.

What the...?

Interweaving this story with Desert One? Other then reminding Americans of a miserable failure, what purpose does that serve, exactly? Do we alternate paragraphs in current events stories on North Korea with details about the battle of Chosin Reservoir?

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea overspent its military budget this year to boost "offensive and defensive" strike capabilities in the face of mounting tensions with the United States over its nuclear weapons programs, a top North Korean official said yesterday.

During the Korean war, US troops landed at Inchon on 15 September 1950, liberated Seoul, marched northward and captured Pyongyang on 19 October.

Hmmmm... maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea...

Now back to Iran.

Dear CNN,
Thank you for not mentioning the Bush administration in your report on aid to Iran. That right-wing dominated AP fawned over the President as though he was the second coming of Christ. Iraq+Bush=Dean 04! Iran+America=Dean 04!

Here's another story you can use for free. I wrote it all by myself:

IRAN (MVG News) The United States government is currently working with Iranian authorities, the United Nations, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to rapidly deploy humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran following yesterday's devastating earthquake in Bam.

The last hungry Islamic nation in turmoil the US attempted to help was Somalia during President Clinton's administration.

The first American aid shipment to Iran arrived early Sunday aboard two U.S. military transport planes that landed in the city of Kerman, about 200 kilometers from Bam.

During a firefight in Mogadishu, 18 American soldiers died while attempting to round up a group of lieutenants of Somalian warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Estimates on the Somali death toll range from 500-1500.

The United States will deploy civilian teams composed of more than 200 experts in urban search and rescue, emergency surgery, and disaster response coordination -- including medical response teams from Boston, Massachusetts, and local disaster response teams from Los Angeles, California, and Fairfax County, Virginia. Disaster response experts will also be drawn from USAID, FEMA, and the Department of State, and the US military will deliver more than 150,000 pounds of medical supplies from bases in Kuwait to the people of Iran.

Shortly after the "Blackhawk Down" episode President Clinton ordered the Americans to flee Somalia. Many right wing loonies, perhaps fueled by claims from Al-Qaeda confirming the allegation, believe this show of presidential cowardice contributed to the events of 911.

The United States will continue to work with Iranian authorities and international relief organizations to help the people of Iran during this challenging time.

And oh by the way, this cute little feller might or (might not) cause problems.

(Pray for the people of Bam.)