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Paying and persuading Iraqi commanders not to fight was simply a brilliant strategic move. In no way does it imply anything bad about US tactics nor does it indicate a false flag operation. In fact the US military made it quite clear in the newspapers that it was conducting psy-ops and negotiations prior to the war with the aim of reducing resistance. Actually I think I recall seeing a report or two that some Iraqi comanders who hhad agreed not to fight went back on their word and fought anyway (for whatever reason).

The business in Uzbekistan is bad and the leader is bad but it is my impression that the Islamic extremists there are bad too. So: a bad tough leader fights bad insurgent extremists. What else is new.