If... then

If... then... Two of the worst phrase introducers that journalism has to offer. Cases in point from the Times: If the president sticks to his timetable for leaving Afghanistan, we could lose this war (!) (Senator Graham, what ever made you think we could win this war?); If the new drug tryout works, we'll find the secret to Alzheimer's (commenter on new small company drug). The first one--losing the war--so utterly certain; the second--the drug working--so unlikely and yet so obvious. Why bother to report them? Surely the Times can do better than this?