Update status XML should publish non-aliased release links

    if ($release = drupalorg_drush_find_release_node($project_data)) {
      $release_nid = basename($release['release_link']);
      $release_data = array(
        'nid' => $release_nid,
      );

This uses the release link from update status XML, like http://drupal.org/node/1727916. When the release node is aliased, like http://drupal.org/drupal-7.17-release-notes, basename() no longer gets the nid.

Instead, project_package or drupalorg's release packagers should use other data to find the nid in Drupal.org's database. I think the version number string will have to be added to the metadata json.