Yes, we know Iraq gets far too little coverage in the western press.
And, yes, we know the December 11th bombing was covered by the press.
CNN wasn't the only outlet covering the attack, but it did a stronger job than most.
The press informed that the suspect was Akayed Ullah, that he was 27-years-old, that he was a permanent US resident, had a cab license, came from Bangladesh, allegedly posted to FACEBOOK that he was carrying out the attack in support of ISIS, that three people were injured in Ullah's bombing attempt, that more would have been wounded if the bomb had detonated correctly, etc.
But these were details.
Shouldn't this attack have prompted a larger discussion?
If (or, heaven forbid, when) suicide bombings become a daily fixture in the United States, will we look back and wonder about this attempt and why there was no effort to discuss the meaning?
Along with pledging loyalty to ISIS, Ullah is alleged to have stated that the bombing was "in response to Israel's actions in Gaza" -- as CNN put it.
Should that have led to a larger discussion about the US government's relations with Israel?
As well as about what actually takes place in Gaza?
A mass shooting gets more attention than this bombing did -- heck, a mini shooting gets more attention.
There was no push for a national dialogue.
Why was that?
While there should not have been an effort to whip up mass hysteria, a national dialogue need not require hysteria.