More Excellent Media Coverage From Iraq

Now I love timely news, but I'd like some facts about the case not just screaming. I saw the title linked article yesterday and thought it sounded a bit odd. Mind you this is an ABC report.

Iraq denounced British forces on Tuesday over a dramatic rescue of two undercover soldiers that could stoke hostility to the army in increasingly volatile southern Iraq.

British troops used an armored fighting vehicle on Monday to burst into an Iraqi jail in search of soldiers held by police in Basra. The British commander said he learned they had been handed to militia and ordered their rescue from a nearby house.

Nearby house? Why would the Iraqi police have prisoners in a nearby house?

Then there is all the wonderful quotes.

"It is unappropriate for any Iraqi to be insulted by a British or an American or any other occupier, we reject the occupying forces," said Abbas Jassim.

"The British violated the government, police and the sons of this country, which we all reject."

and

"This is terrorism. All we had was rifles."

and

Reid said it was not clear whether the Iraqi police were under threat themselves or colluding with local militia.

Lorimer said troops had been sent to the police station where the two men had been detained to help ensure their safety.

All wonderful, especially the last, considering the news this morning on the topic.

The Ministry of the Interior is looking into what led to UK armoured fighting vehicles bulldozing the wall of a Basra police station jail in a bid to free the Special Forces soldiers.

Inside, troops discovered that the two men had been handed over to the militia by Iraqi police and freed them later from a house in the southern city.

Oh, so they were handed over to the militia. Or maybe they were just handed over to the insurgents.

Iraq's government has admitted insurgents have infiltrated its security forces.

The admission comes as an inquiry continues into events surrounding British troops' controversial rescue of two kidnapped SAS men.

Sigh, makes you wonder. Especially when you find articles like this on the web as "news." Read it. It came up under a search of new on the topic. Here's a taste.

A car driving through the outskirts of a besieged city opens fire on a police checkpoint, killing one. In pursuit, the police surround and detain the drivers and find the vehicle packed with explosives – perhaps part of an insurgent's plan to destroy lives and cripple property. If that isn't enough, when the suspects are thrown in prison their allies drive right up to the walls of the jail, break through them and brave petroleum bombs and burning clothes to rescue their comrades. 150 other prisoners break free in the ensuing melee.

Incredible, no? Yet this story took place in the southern Iraqi city of Basra recently. Violence continues to escalate in the breakout's aftermath... just not for the reasons you think.

You see, the drivers of the explosive-laden car were not members of an insurgency group – they were British Special Forces. Their rescuers? British soldiers driving British tanks.

That's right – two members of the British Armed forces disguised as Arab civilians killed a member of the Iraqi police while evading capture. When the people of Basra rightfully refused to turn the murderers over to the British government, per Coalition "mandate," they sent their own men in and released over 100 prisoners in the process.

Winning the hearts and minds, aren't we?

The conclusion of this all is that the US and coalition forces are responsible for the faked terrorist attacks in order to prompt religious war. Brilliant bit of logic there. I'm betting on my Alcoa stock jumping a few notches today.