Note how blandly the following is reported by Reuters in this article:

Russia’s military involvement in Syria has brought losses, including the downed jet and the bombing by militants of a Russian passenger jet over Egypt. But there is no sign yet that public opinion is turning against the operation in Syria and the Kremlin said it would continue.

Instead the Kremlin, helped by state-controlled television, has used these reverses to rally public opinion, portraying the campaign as a moral crusade that Russia must complete, despite indifference or obstruction from elsewhere.

I could quibble with the dismissive tone but there is nothing otherwise too objectionable there. However, would Reuters ever dare to write as follows?

France’s military involvement in Syria has brought losses, notably the recent attacks in Paris. But there is no sign yet that public opinion is turning against the operation in Syria and France said it would continue.

Instead France, helped by state and corporate controlled television, has used these losses to rally public opinion, portraying the campaign as a moral crusade that France must complete, despite indifference or obstruction from elsewhere.

It could never happen – at least while France retains its status as U.S. ally.

Official enemies or adversaries have media with a slant. Allies like France have media that simply report the news.

Official enemies or adversaries suffer predictable blowback for military endeavors beyond their borders. Allies suffer unprovoked attacks on their “values” and “way of life” – and anyone who disputes that, especially in the immediate aftermath of an atrocity, is vilified as an apologist for terrorism.

A UK Guardian editor openly stated that in the days following the Paris attacks opinion pieces mentioning French foreign policy as a cause of the attacks were not allowed.

UPDATE 

A Media Lens reader, Jamie, pointed out that a BBC report followed the same pattern.

Sarah Rainsford BBC:

“This was tough language from an icy-looking President Putin. Much of his comments were for domestic consumption. After all, he launched air strikes in Syria arguing that it would make Russia safer; instead, 224 people were blown out of the sky last month in a bomb attack – and now this.

By rounding on Turkey, he is in part deflecting any suggestion that his own policy has backfired.

Try to imagine this coming from the BBC:

This was tough language from an icy-looking President Hollande. Much of his comments were for domestic consumption. After all, he launch air strikes in Syria arguing that it would make France safer; instead, 132 people were massacred last week in a terrorist attack.

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