Commenting to reporters on the flare-up of violence in Sadr City and subsequent “alleged” passing of 300 of Muqtada’s band of merry men, Sheik Raed al-Qathimi said, ”I categorically deny these American lies” . Gosh that takes me back to simpler times, when you could rely on none other than the former Iraqi Information Minister, Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf for a nightly shot of infotainment. Whether secular, or radical Islamist, entrenched dictator, or wannabe, the judicious use of wild prevarication just never goes out of style!