"The State Department acknowledged Thursday it was wrong in reporting terrorism declined worldwide last year, a finding used to boost one of President Bush's chief foreign policy claims success in countering terror. "

(http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040611_222.html)




"...for Bush, approval of his handling of terrorism — while at a new low — remains much higher than his other ratings; 58 percent approve. (But it's the first time this has inched below six in 10.)"

(http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/Polls/bush_iraq_poll_040524.html)

Are these two stories from today's news related? Will the majority who seem to think that Bush is tougher on terrorism pay any attention to the actual "sharp increase" in terrorism in the last year? Is it really just an honest mistake that terrorism was significantly under-reported by the government? They sure have made a lot of "honest mistakes" haven't they? Can't possibly be part of a pattern of distortion and spin in pursuit of the one true goal of re-election can it?