600 dead in 2 years

Ever since 9/11, I've done a lot of reading about politics worldwide, with a special emphasis on terrorist activity, the war on terror, and the spread of secular democracy (which I think is the only good strategy on the table for countering terror sponsored or justified by religion). I think of myself as reasonably well-informed on these topics. So I've read quite a few stories about Islamic terror activity in Thailand...but somehow I've managed (until this morning) to be oblivious to this fact:

Over 600 people have died in southern Thailand at the hands of these terrorists in just the past two years.

Can you imagine any modern, developed country sustaining this level of casualties from terrorist activity, and not having it reported in the news? What the heck is going on here? Hat tip to Kate at small dead animals, who says (after reading the same news):

I did not know that.

While I appreciate that they have their hands full pursuing the Self-Fulfilling Prophesy Project in Iraq, one would think that our khaki-clad friends covering the international "militancy" beat might have mentioned it in passing.

Of course, without US involvement second tier terrorist zones like Thailand have nearly no hope of breaking into the international news.

I'm sure she's right about this additional bias, which I'll call the "bubble-headed celebrity bias", to go along with the well-understood liberal bias. Just what we all need. And it's another reason to avoid the MSM. Kate goes on to say much more on this topic.