The Iraqis have clearly learned from Bush.

The rumor of hundreds of Shi'ites kidnapped by Sunnis is progress in a way. Just two years ago we were reading about how no weapons of mass destruction had been found and how some officials (like the President) were still insisting that they would be found soon. Now we are reading about how no hostages are found and "On Sunday evening, a few political leaders were still insisting that some hostages might yet be found".

It seems that Iraqi statesmen have learned to use the key tool of democracy -- the intelligence failure. It is also heartening that they seem to have cleared matters up in about 1% of the time required by the coalition (assisted by Judith Miller).

It seems this intelligence failure was about as disinterested as the last "Some of the early reports about the Madaen kidnappings on Friday night came from Shiite political figures who are bitterly angry at the departing government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. In the past, some Shiites have been quick to emphasize any hints that his government may be losing control." Yep sounds like they have caught on very quickly as to how democracy works -- having trouble figuring out what to do ? no problem just invent some facts.

The Times had a tiny bit of a lapse too. The headline changed in the past 6 hours and this was added "The rumors in Madaen did not grow from nothing. A group of traveling Shiites was kidnapped last week near the town, 10 miles south of Baghdad, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials said Sunday. That generated a retaliatory kidnapping of a group of Sunnis by Shiites a few days later." (sorry no screen shots).

The events also show that Ayatollah Sistani is not going to be able to restrain himself in order to apply his view that clerics, such as Sistani, should stay out of politics "Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called government officials and urged them to solve the crisis in Madaen peacefully, said a spokesman." Note he is arguing against using force against Sunnis who have kidnapped Shiites. I personally am not allarmed, since I am now solidly back in the Sistani fan club where I will remain until he and his protegès start rewriting family law (should be about 1 week). I am again proud that I resolved his doubts as to whether sturgeon have scales.

Also note that Zarqawi got (part of) one right. "Even Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the Jordanian terrorist who is Iraq's most wanted man, offered a version of the Madaen developments. His network issued a statement on Islamist Web sites saying that the kidnappings were a fabrication by Iraqi and American authorities." It's not good when you have to admit that an astoundingly depraved terrorist murderer has a point there. Still there is one thing you can count on. Zarqawi will always go to far
"The statement went on to say that it was the Iraqi Army and the police who had rounded people up in Madaen, and that the victims were Sunnis, not Shiites." One bit of certainty in this confusing world.

Anyway it is a very allarming sign that such rumors are spreading but it is a very great relief that, so far, they are 99% rumor.