Operation Snake Charmer

Just a big PR stunt:

But contrary to what many many television networks erroneously reported, the operation was by no means the largest use of airpower since the start of the war. ("Air Assault" is a military term that refers specifically to transporting troops into an area.) In fact, there were no airstrikes and no leading insurgents were nabbed in an operation that some skeptical military analysts described as little more than a photo op. What's more, there were no shots fired at all and the units had met no resistance, said the U.S. and Iraqi commanders.

I don't see how you can blame the TV networks for getting it wrong when all of their information was coming from CentCom. Like I said, the Administration is more concerned with fighting the war at home, and so any fake "show of force" they can portray, with Iraqis purportedly in charge, will get the networks working themselves into a frenzy with weapons stats and "military analysts" surveying maps and all that. It distracts and diverts attention, and provides some justification for withdrawal (see, Iraqis are taking the lead in a MAJOR operation). It's just another example of the dishonesty which has characterized this entire mission. And to think we were the ones who laughed at Baghdad Bob.