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Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 02:43:48 PM EST
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Very bad news from Iraq. The AP reports that a farmer in Iraq witnessed the kidnapping of two U.S. soldiers missing from Yusufiyah, a mostly Sunni town about ten miles south of Baghdad.

The White House promised to do everything it could to find the soldiers and said it had a message for anybody who may have taken the two men: "Give them back."

Gunmen, meanwhile, kidnapped 10 bakery workers in Baghdad, and a mortar attack killed four people in the capital. Police also found 17 bodies around the city, including four women and a teenager handcuffed and shot in the head - apparently the latest victims of sectarian death squads.

It has been more than two years since a U.S. soldier has been kidnapped in Iraq.

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    Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped | 31 comments (31 topical)
    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 03:26:12 PM EST
    We got the Zark-man. There was light at the end of the tunnel. We had turned the corner. Those Viet Cong were on their last legs...oops. It's gotta be The Left's (registered trademark) fault. I will stop now before I further embolden the terrorists. I know they are reading this as they plot more mayhem.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 03:27:22 PM EST
    It is bad news indeed, but I do not understand why this is being described as a "kidnapping". Are we at "war" in Iraq and is this not a capture of "enemy combatants? you know "prisoners" captured by the enemy? They were captured, were they not? I expect soon we will be treated to a display of some kind of barbaric display of their bodies or heads on film.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 04:37:27 PM EST
    Since those two kidnappees are truly, "enemy combatants" I think it only fair that they suicide themselves in order to strike back at those pesky insurgents.....

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#4)
    by cmpnwtr on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 05:02:51 PM EST
    So, as Americans are graced with the torture and beheading of our young soldiers, we can all be grateful that the Busheviks are 'staying the course" with their "fast asses" in air conditioned offices. We can also be grateful that our Attorney General thinks that the Geneva Convention is "quaint". We can also be grateful for the torture in Abu Ghraib and elsewhere courtesy of Don Rumseld. It will provide strong moral ground for us to protest the atrocities that will be inflicted on our own.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 05:55:10 PM EST
    Too bad that those Geneva Conventions are "quaint" and "obsolete." Our soldiers might have appreciated them.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#6)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 06:28:48 PM EST
    ukle - Why do you think an organization that hijacked four civilan aircraft and killed about three thousand inncoents or beheaded an non-combatant who was just looking for work.... would pay any attention to the GC? Are you serious, or just trolling??

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 06:50:28 PM EST
    PPJ...by the same token, why would you think that an organization that exploited 9/11 in order kill thousands of innocent Iraqis pay any attention to the GC? In the race to the bottom, you are standing on the sidelines and rooting for our side.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#8)
    by desertswine on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 10:43:14 PM EST
    The experience of Thomas Hamill, a truck driver who escaped a hostage situation in Iraq in 2004,would lead me to think that there is still some hope, although small, for the return of these two unfortunate soldiers.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#9)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 11:32:28 PM EST
    Desertswine, It depends upon who captured them. The majority of those "kidnapped" in Iraq are held (either by militias or the coalition) for ransom and released. We only hear about the violent outcomes (if at all any more because they happen so often). However, in view of how the US is winning the hearts and minds and other assorted viscera of the populace, this is not a good thing at all.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 07:31:15 AM EST
    Well said photobug...can an occupier be kidnapped? P.O.W. does seem more apt. That being said...hope they make it home alive. All our men and women. Sooner rather than later.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#11)
    by cpinva on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 08:28:11 AM EST
    unfortunately, our military is in no way either equipped, or willing, to fight a successful war against determined insurgents. what that requires would be totally repulsive to most of us, even those completely supportive of the war as a whole. i hope, anyway. this is the end result. hopefully, they'll get back in one piece.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#12)
    by Richard Aubrey on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 09:31:51 AM EST
    cpinva. Your comment about being completely unprepared, etc. brings up a point or two. Do we automatically cede every fight we get into if the enemy figures out a way to use insurgency tactics? Do we foreclose the possibility by doing the WW II thing of smashing the place flat first? Or is it possible that we can win an insurgency without WW II strategy? I hope so. Some, like Murtha, do not. Murtha let the cat out of your bag when he said the point is to get out of Iraq fast enough that it doesn't look like a victory.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#13)
    by soccerdad on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 10:06:11 AM EST
    Some, like Murtha, do not. Murtha let the cat out of your bag when he said the point is to get out of Iraq fast enough that it doesn't look like a victory.
    Source?

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#14)
    by Richard Aubrey on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 10:45:40 AM EST
    Soc. Television interview reported in a paper. I'll look for it. Now, just for the fun of it. Suppose my limited search skills find it. What difference would it make to you?

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#15)
    by soccerdad on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 10:57:26 AM EST
    I want to see if its a direct quote that can be verified or an interpretation by someone. The latter carries no weight while the former does.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 11:07:01 AM EST
    To Soccerdad.... I really don't think one carries any more weight than the other. That's what really makes me laugh about this blog. Everyone wants a source as to who said what and when. Why do we care? The fact of the matter is the age old saying.... Opinions are like ***holes, we all have them! Who cares weather Iraq looks like a victory, as long as we get out and do it soon.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 12:14:23 PM EST
    Do we foreclose the possibility by doing the WW II thing of smashing the place flat first?
    We tried that in Vietnam, remember? Of course you don't. See Dick forget. See Dick doomed to repeat.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#19)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 12:16:10 PM EST
    And even if they are not dead, I doubt there is much we can do about it unless we have the intel to find them and rescue them. I doubt any amount of talking is going to save them.
    translation: they are better off dead than used to make Bush look bad.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#21)
    by soccerdad on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 12:42:48 PM EST
    MWF - that wasn't the point of my asking for the source, but I understand how you can draw that conclusion. I was just trying to find out if that was a real quote or a slander of Murtha by the neocons. Personally I want everyone home tomorrow. But I believe its not going to happen. I think they are there for the next 20-30 years and that an attack against Iran at some point is inevitable. I would be very happy to be proven wrong.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#23)
    by Edger on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:15:45 PM EST
    And even if they are not dead, I doubt there is much we can do about it unless we have the intel to find them and rescue them. I doubt any amount of talking is going to save them. Though it is not likely considering the examples that have been set, let's hope they are treated with much more respect than the standards set by bushco for the treatment of 'enemy combatants', expecially those used to attack a country illegally...

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#24)
    by jondee on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:20:10 PM EST
    Who needs actual, verifiable quotes when Aubrey knows what Murtha and the lefties really think?

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#25)
    by jondee on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:22:02 PM EST
    Dont crack open the bubbly yet, he's onto us.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#26)
    by scribe on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:22:03 PM EST
    Per Deadeye Dick: He now admits he underestimated the strength of the insurgency, especially when saying last year that it was in its last throes. And he said, when asked in 92 why we didn't go for Sadaam then - it wouldn't be worth the American casualties. Of course, 2500 is just a number.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#27)
    by soccerdad on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:23:03 PM EST
    We really don't want Iran to have nuclear weapons.
    of course not it would interfere with US Hegemony.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#29)
    by Edger on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 02:08:15 PM EST
    ...there is really nothing you can do to make them treat the troops with any humanity. Glad to hear you've finally come to your senses and are beginning to understand the bushco mentality, narius. The only thing we can do is to make sure our troops (and people) do not fall into their hands. Too late for that now, but maybe after November we can make sure it doesn't happen again.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 02:51:33 PM EST
    Though it is not likely considering the examples that have been set, let's hope they are treated with much more respect than the standards set by bushco for the treatment of 'enemy combatants', expecially those used to attack a country illegally...
    Yeah maybe they can repeatedly break the arms, hands, feet & legs of the US service men like they have done before. I guess we can be grateful they aren't women, we won't have to worry about them being repeatedly raped like the majority of female US captives were during the initial war - well before Abu Ghraib & Gitmo allegations surfaced.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 03:00:57 PM EST
    I'm almost too scared to ask for links. PMain doesn't drink the kool-aid...he injects it.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 03:07:40 PM EST
    Ernie, Get a list of the captured US military personnel from the both the current & previous Gulf War. Looked at their treatments & you'll see most female soldiers were repeatedly raped & tortured, all male captured male solders have had arms, legs & feet broken & were really tortured. Though it doesn't make as good as a story as putting underwear on someone's head... This is why the military tells each soldier to not get captured at all costs. No kool-aid involved, I just have 2 cousins & a brother that have made a combined 9 tours of Afghanistan & Iraq. 2 are there now.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#33)
    by desertswine on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 03:29:37 PM EST
    Gulf War (Desert Storm) The total number of American servicemen captured was 21 and all were immediately repatriated when hostilities ceased. See Table 1, note (d) for more details. Source: DPMO web site
    This from the US Dept of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Preparedness. I really don't know why I bothered.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#34)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 03:48:31 PM EST
    Yes PMain, if any of our POWs are mistreated, that gives us the green light to do the same. This is so self-evident that one must wonder why such a defense didn't work for Granier and the other peons that took the fall for Abu Ghraib. You seem to have been watching made for TV docu-dramas, not realizing that the Jessica Lynch story was um...slightly embellished by the military/CIA psy ops team. (Her abuse at the hands of the Iraqis was nothing however, compared to the swift-boating she got from PMain and the boyz when she pointed out the lies.) And remember, above all else, it's not torture when we do it...it's just college pranks.

    Re: Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped (none / 0) (#35)
    by Sailor on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 04:19:19 PM EST
    pmain, provide links or STFU.

    Report: Two Missing U.S. Soldiers Kidnapped | 31 comments (31 topical)