Iraq: Who's REALLY in Charge?

[DoveTurnedHawk]

So check out this gem on the front page of MSNBC. The cover story right now is:

US Contradicts Iraqis Over Release of Woman

Two Iraqi female prisoners being held by U.S. authorities in Iraq will not be released imminently, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad said on Wednesday. Militants who purportedly killed two American hostages have threatened to execute a Briton with them unless all female Iraqi prisoners are let go.

The U.S. statement came hours after Iraq promised to release one of the women prisoners, but denied the decision was linked to the militants' demands.

"The two women are in legal and physical custody of the multinational forces in Iraq and neither will be released imminently," a spokesman for the U.S. embassy said.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6015597/

Now, contrast this with yesterday's (cough cough BULLSHIT cough cough) cover story, which is still highlighted as a subheadline today:

US Taking Supporting Role in Iraq

Three months after the handover of power, the interim government of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is making most key decisions politically and militarily, while the new U.S. Embassy is increasingly deferring and acting in a supporting role, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

U.S. diplomats and military experts say the United States is now doing what it should have done a year ago: ceding authority to Iraqis; focusing on smaller, labor-intensive reconstruction projects to generate jobs rather than big ventures by U.S. companies; and assuming a low profile.

Allawi's interim government, meanwhile, is consolidating control over Iraqi ministries once tightly managed under former U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer, officials say. Iraqis, for example, are allocating the nation's oil income, overseeing the struggle to restore basic government services and guiding distribution of U.S. aid.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6066911/

Riiiiiiight. :eyes:

DTH