"the most senior defector"

It is hilarious that Western media are having a field day with the defection of the assistant to the deputy of the Syrian oil minister.  They are all stressing that he is "the most senior" defector thus far.  Of course, he is the most senior because the other two were a sports announcer and a low level accountant.  This is like saying that George W. Bush is smarter than Sarah Palin.