The U.S. military acknowledged Friday that Thursday’s reports of the capture of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the reputed leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, was a case of mistaken identity. A low level CIA operative speaking on condition of anonymity has revealed that the man US and Iraqi forces happened upon in a cafe in the northern city of Mosul and took into custody was later determined to be acclaimed actor Naveen Andrews, most recently known for his portrayal of former Iraqi Republican Guard member Sayid on the popular T.V. drama Lost.

   Although Lost writer and executive producer Carlton Cuse confirms that Andrews is on leave from the show to research an upcoming movie role as an Iraqi goat herder, his current whereabouts are unknown. “You know, I hear this stuff happens all the time to those actors who play pedophiles on those ‘most wanted’ t.v. shows,” defended the operative. “Andrews really should consider it a compliment that we were so convinced he was an Iraqi insurgent. I mean who can forget that image of Sayid hammering those things under Sawyer’s fingernails in season 1?”

   Pentagon officials deny reports that Andrews was flown in secrecy to Egypt Thursday night where he was waterboarded for nearly five hours before his captors realized their mistake. But in related news, someone using the moniker “ihearthoover” has recently posted on several Lost spoiler internet message boards, citing “a reliable source,” that Claire is alive and the guy in the coffin is Christian Shepherd. Neither Andrews nor his agent immediately returned telephone messages seeking comment.

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