Another Lie From Iraq

This weekend there was some big news from Iraq. Yet another number two man, a major leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (a group that did not exist until well after the US invasion of Iraq) was arrested. There was satisfaction expressed, and the implication that this would lead to the weakening of the insurgency and civil wars.

This got big play on the national news (big play for a holiday weekend at least). A couple of days later, the truth comes out.

The U.S. military said today the arrest of al-Qaida in Iraq's second in command took place in June

{snip}

Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, announced al-Saeedi's arrest on Sunday, saying it had occurred a few days earlier. But Caldwell said that it was only the permission to announce the arrest that had been given a few days earlier.

Caldwell called the arrest the most significant since al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike on June 7.

While Zarqawi's death and al-Saeedi's arrest are good news, the last 3 months in Iraq should make it clear to everyone that killing off the leadership will not directly lead to reducing the level of violence.

Sunday, we are told that we have another clear sign that progress is being made. Another high ranking official is removed, and a small step to peace has been made. This is carried as part of the lead in the national news. Three days later we learn that this breaking news, is 90 days old. It should also confirm what all the past proclamation of arrests and deaths have taught us.

He was arrested seventy five days ago, and the last seventy five days have been bloodier that most of the last five years. This is the lesson, that we should learn, but the way this information was reported, it is one that most people will miss. Those who saw the news Sunday will continue to think that progress has been made, not knowing that this arrest proves just the opposite.

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Iraq