Alas, a Fine Whine Spoilt

Irish longtime America-hater Patrick Cockburn used reports of the Madaena "hostage crisis" for one of his tedious rants yesterday in the Independent (UK):

150 hostages and 19 deaths leave US claims of Iraqi 'peace' in tatters
By Patrick Cockburn in Mosul
17 April 2005

Iraqi and United States-led forces were last night preparing to launch a rescue mission for up to 150 Shia hostages held by Sunni insurgents.

The threat by Sunni militants in the town of Madaen, south of Baghdad, to execute the hostages unless Shias leave the area, intensified the growing sectarian fears.

The upsurge in violence across Iraq in the past four days has left claims made by the Pentagon that the tide is turning in Iraq and there are hopeful signs of a return to normality in tatters.

Unfortunately for Cockburn, it now appears the story was either false, or at least greatly exaggerated.

More at Captain's Quarters.