Clueless Reporter Implies That Thompson Is Clueless On Iraq

Sometimes a reporter’s ignorance comes right out and bites you on the ankle. Case in point, New York Daily News reporter Richard Sisk who was “puzzled” by Thompson’s talk about al Qaeda and smoking habits in the Anbar province. Something that was picked up and spread all over the liberal blogosphere.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Freshly minted GOP White House hopeful Fred Thompson puzzled Iowans yesterday by insisting an Al Qaeda smoking ban was one reason freedom-loving Iraqis bolted to the U.S. side.
“They said, ‘You gotta quit smoking,’” Thompson explained to a questioner asking about progress in Iraq during a town hall-style meeting.
Thompson said the smoking ban and terror tactics Al Qaeda used to oppress women and intimidate local leaders pushed tribes in western Anbar Province to support U.S. troops.
But Thompson’s tale of a smokers’ revolt baffled some in the audience of about 150 who came to decide whether the former Tennessee senator is ready for prime time.

Perhaps the idea that some individuals, including Iraqis, don’t like to be told what to do by the government or oppressive militant political groups is hard to grasp for liberal reporters who typically favor big government. But the idea that al Qaeda’s ban on smoking was a big reason why Iraqis pushed back against the group is undeniable.
Embedded blogger Michael Yon reported on this from Iraq some time ago:

On the evening of the 24th I spoke with a local Iraqi official, Colonel Faik, who said the Muftis would order the severance of the two fingers used to hold a cigarette for any Iraqis caught smoking. Other reports, from here in Diyala and also in Anbar, allege that smokers are murdered by AQI. Most Iraqis smoke and this particular prohibition appeared to have earned the ire of many locals. After an American unit cleared an apartment complex on the 23rd, LTC Smiley, the battalion commander, reported that residents didn’t ask for food and water, but cigarettes. In other parts of Baqubah, people have been celebrating the routing of AQI by lighting up and smoking cigarettes.

CNN hit on it too:

Locals say al Qaeda amputated fingers for smoking
Nationalist insurgents say al Qaeda excesses are behind their falling-out. Several sources said al Qaeda members burned a 7-year-old child alive and murdered women and other children in the towns and villages around the provincial capital of Baquba. They did not give names or dates to back up their claims.
“They [al Qaeda] ruled with tyranny. They really harmed our town, so we had to stop them, and they left, no return,” said one young gunman, who claimed membership in the nationalist 1920s Brigades.
Other civilian and insurgent sources in the towns of Tahrir and neighboring Buhruz said al Qaeda had imposed strict regulations, including a ban on smoking — punishable by the amputation of a finger or hand — and a curfew on citizens walking in the streets after 4 p.m.

So is Thompson “clueless” about Iraq? Well, clearly he’s less clueless on the subject than New York Daily News reporter Richard Sisk is.