Al Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Kidnapping of GIs
Fox News report
BAGHDAD, Iraq — An umbrella group that includes Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed in a Web statement Monday that it had kidnapped two U.S. soldiers reported missing south of Baghdad.
There was no immediate confirmation that the statement was credible, although it appeared on a Web site often used by Al Qaeda-linked groups. U.S. officials have said they were trying to confirm whether the missing soldiers were kidnapped.
“Your brothers in the military wing of the Mujahedeen Shura Council kidnapped the two American soldiers near Youssifiya,” the group said in a statement posted on an Islamic Web site.
The Web site did not name the soldiers.
The U.S. military said Monday that seven American troops have been wounded, three insurgents have been killed and 34 detained during an intensive search for two soldiers.
Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq, said fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles and dive teams had been deployed to find the two men. The men went missing Friday during an attack on their checkpoint in the volatile Sunni area south of Baghdad that left one of their comrades dead.
“We have surged intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms and employed planes, boats, helicopters and UAVs to ensure the most thorough search possible on the ground, in the air and in the water,” Caldwell said in a statement issued Monday.
He did not comment on reports that the two men had been seized by insurgents, saying only that they were listed as “duty status and whereabouts unknown.” He said seven other U.S. service members had been wounded in action during the search efforts that began Friday night.
The Defense Department identified the missing men:
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore. It said Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, Springfield, Mass., was killed in the attack. The three were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Caldwell said more than 8,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops were participating in the search.
“While searching for our soldiers, we have engaged in a number of significant actions against the anti-Iraqi forces,” he said, adding that three insurgents had been killed and 34 taken into custody.
He also said the military had received 63 tips and had launched 12 cordon and search operations, eight air assaults and 280 flight hours were logged.
“Approximately 12 villages have been cleared in the area, and we continue to engage local citizens for help and information leading to the whereabouts of our soldiers,” he said, without elaborating.
Caldwell also said the military was still searching for Sgt. Keith M. Maupin, of Batavia, Ohio, who went missing April 9, 2004.
Maupin was captured when insurgents ambushed his fuel convoy with the 724th Transportation Co. west of Baghdad.
CNN report ( just click for complete article, thank you)
An al Qaeda-affiliated group on Monday claimed it kidnapped two U.S. soldiers south of Baghdad, although the captives were not named.
The group — Mujahedeen Shura Council — made the unverified claim in a statement posted on a Web site. It did not post images or video of the soldiers as it has in the past.
The statement said, “the strongest army in the world is turned around, ashamed of their failure to find the soldiers and we will give you more information on the incident in the following days.”
Update:…just click for complete article, thank you
Missing US troops in area where many live in fear
BAGHDAD – Two US soldiers missing in Iraq since Friday disappeared into a lawless Qaeda stronghold where residents describe being terrorized by unknown militants.
Military helicopters and divers are combing the rural Euphrates river area south of Baghdad for the troops who went missing after an attack on their checkpoint near the town of Yusufiya killed another US soldier.
Most people in the Sunni Arab region resent the presence of the US troops. But even if they wanted to help the two soldiers, doing so could be fatal.
“We live in fear. Gunmen always go to people’s houses asking about who works for the Iraqi army or police or the Americans,” taxi driver Abdullah Jassim told Reuters by telephone.
And this is very alarming:
Many more of your soldiers gonna be killed in the days and weeks ahead. Summary of death will be as follows: we’ll cut their genitals/boobs depending on their gender, disembowel their intestines and slit their throats and then post the videos of the executions/massacres on our newssites: www.kavkazcenter.com and english.aljazeera.net.
Comment by MansurAlIraqi 06.19.06 @ 1:00 pm
Wild Thing’s comment….
ENOUGH! Damn, damn, damn! The calls for withdraw (cut and run) embolden are enemy and are the cause of such attacks. Every call for withdrawl every negative statement about the effort spills the blood of good American Servicemen and women.
Prayers for these men and for all our troops. For their families and loved ones.
As for these vile pieces of flesh that have done this you are too evil even to be sent to hell. There will be a day soon when you will feel the rath of America on you and I pray it will be soon, very soon.
UPDATE:
I am so sorry to have this update. My sympathies to the families and other loved ones of these fine soldiers. They are true Americans, and they gave their all.
Bodies of Pvt. Kristian Menchaca and Pvt. Thomas Tucker Reportedly Found
Pvt. Tucker’s family released a recording of his last phone call home:
“Be proud of me Mom, I’m defending my country. Tell sis and my nephews hello for me, I’m OK, I’m on my way.”
Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Mohammed said:
the bodies were found on a street near a power plant in the town of Youssifiyah, just south of Baghdad.
Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Muhammed-Jassim, head of operations at Iraqi Ministry of Defense said the soldiers had been “barbarically” killed and that there were traces of torture on their bodies. He offered no further details.
Wild Thing’s comment……
To all you lefties, Murtha, Pelosi, etc. in government, and the rest of you anti-war traitors to America and to our military STFU! You are part of the reason these soliders are dead, YOU are working hand in hand with the enemy.
You have these soldiers blood on YOUR hands, you damn well better believe it.
Where are you now? Where are you callking your 15 minutes of fame press conferences to say how sorry you that we lost 2 soldiers lives? NO you are too busy bashing the military and the war against Islam!
Recent Comments