Breaking Iraq news: a significant break between the US and its Shiite allies or inexcusable stupidity? [UPDATE]

via juan cole...

Breaking News: US Arrests Ammar al-Hakim

US troops arrested Ammar al-Hakim, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, on his return from Iran. There are conflicting reports on whether he has been released.

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim is the leader of the United Iraqi Alliance, the major bloc in parliament, and is enormously powerful and influential in Iraq. He also heads the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its Badr Corps paramilitary. He visited Bush in the White House on Dec. 4. If the arrest of his son was deliberate, it could be a significant break between the US and its Shiite allies in Iraq. If it was an accident, it was inexcusable stupidity.

It is also possible that the MEK terrorist organization, which Saddam had given a base in Iraq from which it could blow things up in Iran, is funneling disinformation to the US military. The MEK operatives are still in Iraq and their spies monitor the border, and I have a sense that they are trying to drive a wedge between the US and SCIRI. SCIRI has repeatedly called for their expulsion from the country.

let's see how this one plays out, or, indeed, if we even hear of it again...

[UPDATE]

it looks like the verdict is in... the envelope, please...

IT'S ------ INEXCUSABLE STUPIDITY!

US troops have released the eldest son of one of Iraq's top Shia politicians after detaining him for nearly 12 hours, Iraqi officials have said.

Ammar al-Hakim, the son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, was arrested at a border checkpoint as he returned from Iran, security and Shia officials said.

It remains unclear why Mr Hakim and his two bodyguards were detained.

The US ambassador to Iraq apologised and said that the circumstances of the detention would be investigated.

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