#The NYT’s terrible 9/11 takeaway, Milley’s call chicanery and more

Diary of disturbing disinformation and dangerous delusions:

These headlines:

We say: On the 20th anniversary of the world’s deadliest terrorist attack, the country’s supposed “paper of record” was focused on anything but paying tribute to al Qaeda’s 2,977 victims, the heroism exhibited that horrible day and the enduring legacy of both. Instead of, say, considering first responders’ deadliest day in American history, the Times’ hacks used the tragedy to push their typical tired talking points.

This quote:

“I can tell you frequent communication with two countries like Russia and China is not atypical at all for a chairman of the Joint Chiefs.” — Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, Sept. 15

We say: No one contests communication between countries is customary. But Gen. Mark Milley’s “secret calls” to his Chinese counterpart, as Bob Woodward’s new book describes them, were neither “routine” nor “transparent,” as Kirby comically claims. Milley hid his Oct. 30, 2020, and Jan. 8, 2021, calls to People’s Liberation Army Gen. Li Zuocheng from President Donald Trump. Supposedly “fearful Trump might spark war” despite no evidence, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer actually promised America’s adversary he’d tip off the Communists to any impending attack.

This headline:

‘Overall crime decreased in 2020’ in the U.S., report finds: An analysis by the moderate Democratic group Third Way runs counter to popular perceptions of rising crime nationwide. — NBC News, Sept. 12

We say: Of course some crime dropped as lockdowns kept people home. But America saw more violent crime in 2020 than it had in decades, with possibly the biggest yearly rise in homicides ever recorded. No wonder 78 percent of voters call violent crime a “major problem.”

This quote:

“I don’t think it should be mandatory. I wouldn’t demand that it be mandatory.” — President Biden on COVID vaccines, Dec. 4, 2020

We say: Afghanistan isn’t the only subject of the prez’s tall tales. “I’m announcing tonight a new plan to require more Americans to be vaccinated,” Biden said last week, going back on his word. His heavy-handed employer mandate could apply to 100 million workers.

— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board