Oh, look! A top al-Qaeda leader in Iraq!

We've captured another number 2 or 3 or something! Who just so happens to conveniently prove Bush's talking points about al-Qaeda in Iraq being connected to Osama...

David Kurtz of Talking Points Memo:

Hot on the heels of yesterday's release of the declassified NIE on Al Qaeda, the U.S. military in Baghdad announced today that it has captured a top leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq:

The U.S. command said Wednesday the highest-ranking Iraqi in the leadership of al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested, adding that information from him indicates the group's foreign-based leadership wields considerable influence over the Iraqi chapter.

First off, the capture took place two weeks ago but was not announced until today. Hmmm, have we seen that before? And the detainee just happened to confess to a greater level of coordination between AQ in Iraq and Osama bin Laden's global AQ, right in line with the official White House line that AQ in Iraq and AQ are one and the same. The White House is already highlighting the capture in its daily email to reporters. Go figure.

Do these al-Qaeda guys go around with t-shirts painted with their status number? Do they declare when captured," Ha! You have caught me, a top leader of al-Qaeda which actually is connected to Osama's al-Qaeda! I am number 2!"

Have we heard Bush mention the clear connection to Saudi Arabia yet?:

About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia.

Oh, never mind...