Ohiocore

A quick survey of today's stories about Iran's resumed of nuclear development is an interesting case. The major facts are essentially understood by all sources, so the resulting variation in news coverage is a great example of observer expectancy result.

• Xinhua: "Iran optimistic about escaping UNSC referral"
• NY Times: "Iran Proposes New Talks With Europeans, Who Are Mostly Dismissive"
  
• The Australian: "Europe softens stance on Iran"
  
• Washington Post: Krauthammer can hardly manage to convert a third of his editorial comment into complete sentences. Proof the sentence fragment isn't dead. Because it isn't. "The Iran Charade, Part II". Actually, the title refers mainly to the EU Three nations' "head in the sand" approach. He opens quoting newly elected German Chancellor Merkel's claim of success on Iran, and proceeds to ridicule it.
• BBC News: Their own roundup up Arab newspapers is titled "West accused nuclear duplicity".
  • Al-Riyadh (Saudi Arabia):
  • Oman(Oman):
  • Al-Jumhuriyah (Egypt):
  • Al-Dustur (Jordan):
  • Al-Wafd (Egypt):
  • Iran Daily (Iran):
  • Resalat (Iran):

So which is it? Is Europe softening or stiffening? Is the West or Iran duplicitous? I think it is fair to say that all four assertions are true. Ah, complexity.