Amaq, the ISIS news agency that tries to put on an appearance of objectivity

New York

THE San Bernardino shootings. The killing rampage this week in a Baghdad mall. On Thursday, it was the explosion that ripped through a Starbucks in Jakarta.

In each of those terrorist attacks, an outlet called the Amaq News Agency was first with the news that the Islamic State was going to claim responsibility. The agency has been getting the scoops because it gets tips straight from Islamic State, and for those on the terrorism beat, that has made Amaq a must-read every time a bomb goes off.