Why were people telling lies about Reinado for 5 months ?

Question

"THE hunt for the fugitive rebel leader Alfredo Reinado in East Timor's central mountains has been officially called off, and he and his heavily armed men have been given safe conduct passes.

The decision brings to a humiliating end a five-month operation by Australian troops that included elite Special Air Service soldier."

Wouldn't an elite force check what they were doing before becoming involved ?

Answer 1

It is all just politics, their mission depends more upon their political goals than the actual facts involved.