NYT Reporter Was Actually a Loyal Officer in Saddam's Army

Richard Miniter: Got that? The New York Times reporter was an officer in Saddam’s army. Nice. By the way, officers were not drafted (that’s how the enlisted ranks were filled). Officers had to be selected and regularly vetted for loyalty and effectiveness. So Saddam decided that he could trust our intrepid correspondent and so did the New York Times.

He is referring to an article by Qais Mizher, apparently a 'war correspondent' and an officer in Saddam's old army. How did the NYT think no one would catch that?