More Media Bushsh*t

"If I had a nickel for every No. 2 and No. 3 they've arrested or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'd be a millionaire."

- veteran counterterrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann.

Bush hyped the capture of yet another Al Quaeda Number Two in Iraq this week:

Iraqi and coalition forces tracked down and killed Abu Azzam, the second most wanted al Qaeda leader in Iraq.

Oh really? Scott Shields did a little DIY investigation:

On my own, referring to nothing more than the CENTCOM press release
announcing the warrant for Abu Azzam's arrest, I checked out the rewards being offered for certain figures linked to Zarqawi. It would make sense that the more important someone is, the higher the reward for his capture would be.

Out of 29 wanted terrorists listed in the warrant, no one has a smaller reward offered for his capture than Abu Azzam. In fairness, he's tied for last place with ten others. However, the $50,000 offered for Abu Azzam pales in comparison to the $25 million, $10 million, $1 million, and $200,000 offered for others. If he was "the second most wanted al Qaeda leader in Iraq," as Bush referred to him, why such a small reward?

With Bush's poll numbers in the toilet and Tom DeLay about to be indicted, it wasn't at all surprising that this claim was made this morning. When Bush needs good news and there isn't any to be had, they just make it up.

Bush cited this capture as proof that the coalition tactics of never-ending offensive actions are working in Iraq. But surely the fact that all these other leaders remain on the loose - and let's not forget Bin Laden - is damning proof that the US tactics are still failing.

Bush's speech also included this little gem:

They can't stand elections. The thought of people voting is an anathema to them. You see, democracy and freedom are the exact opposite of what's in their mind, in their vision.

Got it? It's not the foreign occupation, it's not the insensate killing of innocent civilians, it's not the long-term military bases, it's not the returned-from-exile-puppet stooges looting the oil wealth... These bad, bad people just hate freedom. They hate elections. And rumour has it they might be susceptible to kryptonite as well.