How does the AP know the North was executing “Southern Rightists?” As they seize power the Communist often execute teachers, cops, mayors, village elders, scout masters, people who wear glasses — anyone they think might lead a resistance to “change.” Hell, they’ve been known to shoot a reporter now and then. And the communist would put a bullet through the back of the head of a Social Democrat as fast (or faster) than any of the above. As for the real “Southern rightist,” I doubt they were waiting around to take their chances. It seems to me the AP should treat these victims like they were terrorist — innocents swept up by an invading horde.

And is the AP sure the fellow snapping pictures and taking notes wasn’t William Duranty of the New York Times? Oh. Right. This is one massacre he would have reported. (Duranty won a Pulitzer Prize in the 1930′s for covering up Stalin’s genocidal “terror famine” in the Ukraine).

I stopped watching the network news long ago so this is an old example. The Palestinians lynched a dozen or so “suspects” and Peter Jennings reported that they were, beyond doubt, “Israeli Collaborators.” So I emailed ABC news: “How do you know the crowd did not just owe them money? Hang the guys who hold the mortgage and it’s a clear profit to you.”

Often in these situations democracy committed nationalist get it from both sides because they are a threat to both sides. And neither side will identify them as what they really are. When you align yourself with communists you have the problem that if the other side don’t kill you, the communist will (but only after you’ve served your purpose).