The news channels were mentioning the invasion being related to 9/11 and Bin Laden because the white house was making that claim. They did exactly what you're

The news channels were mentioning the invasion being related to 9/11 and Bin Laden because the white house was making that claim. They did exactly what you're saying the press should do: only report on the facts they had. It turned out to be a terrible strategy, as the US had a president working hard to deceive the press and public.