accentuate the negative, eliminate the positive

given the improved numbers in military personnel, the ny times attempts to cherry pick some numbers to keep flogging the story.

the ny times included the image on the right to depict trends in military officer retention [bugmenot login]. during the late 90s, the military suffered near double digit 'loss rate', while 9/11 appears to have caused a spike in retention which has abated a bit.

i could suggest another possible interpretation: 'military retention historically high despite war'. one would think retention would have been even higher during the perceived peacetime of the clinton 90s, yet current numbers still come in better.

even the times notes that some changes already improved retention in the first quarter after a coupla off years

update (via memeorandum): usa today goes positive by stressing higher than expected retention numbers

¶ - nitish @ 8:55 AM