Tuesday.....International.....Goodwill Gesture?

In 2007, a Shiite terrorist group in Iraq, rumored to be backed by Iran, attacked American soldiers while wearing American style uniforms, killing five Americans. One of the leaders of the organization was captured. Today, the United States suddenly released this captured leader of the terrorist group Asaib al-Haq. Or did they? It's called part of a National Reconciliation Effort, a goodwill gesture. The terrorist promises to be good. Coincidentally, the Iranian presidential election is in three days. It's a ploy, a gambit. It sends the wrong message to terrorists. The reporting, as least as I saw it develop, needs clearing up. Initial reports from around the world were that the United States released the terrorist. A more recent report by CNN stated that the Iraqi government released the prisoner. Towards the end of the news release it mentioned that this was a part of a gradual handing over of detainees that began in the beginning of the year. An Iraqi government spokesman said that it wasn't clear when the transfer was made, but this was not a typical detainee. It appears that the United States military may have recently turned him over to the Iraqis for release, but to read the CNN news release, you would not think the United States government was involved when in all probability, this move came directly from the White House. Is this important? If this was our decision, it is consistent with how this administration treats terrorism. If it is reported as an Iraqi move, as the CNN report did, then it may be intended for the buck to stop there.