US troops 'seized by insurgents'

[dreamer]

Two US soldiers missing in Iraq since Friday were abducted at gunpoint by masked militants, witnesses say.
A huge hunt has been launched in the volatile area south of Baghdad where the pair were last seen.
Witnesses say they were captured after their Humvee vehicle came under fire at a checkpoint. A third soldier died.
The US military has not commented on the witnesses' claims but says it will hunt for the men until it establishes what has happened to them.
In other developments:
link. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/5092072.stm
well i hope they find these men. the usa keep saying its getting better "where" . Dreamer

[Boetie]

Remember that stupid photo opt Bush Jr did by flying into Iraq to have his picture taken there?

If Bush Jr really wanted to show Americans how great things are, he would go to a Sunni nightclub without his body guards, take the microphone and start a comedy routine. He can begin by saying, "what a bunch of swell guys those Shias are, what do you think about those Shias uh? Great people those Shias"

Or he can go to a Shia nightclub and do his shtick there. "What about those Sunnis gotta love them great bunch of people. How about that folks lets hear it, lets give a hand to those Sunnis."

But alas all we get is a stupid photo opt and a bunch of lap dog media White House stenographers telling us things are great because Bush Jr had a picture taken.

[rmnunez]

I wonder what Bush's visit, and whatever "photo ops" he had, has to do with the capture of the 2 soldiers. I also doubt the purpose of his visit was to show united statians or Iraqis how great the US is. Bush was consulting policy for Iraq with a team of experts and his Cabinet at Camp David, there was an announcement from the Iraqi government the president of Iraq had accomplished a complete cabinet integrating recalcitrant elements and this was viewed as a remarkable success worth buttressing -so Bush went over to express his support, endorse and reiterate commitments.

Its hard to imagine a more inappropriate venue for Bush to make a pitch to Iraqis than a nightclub, remember at least the opposition takes a dim view of these western ways and likely frowns on places where drinks and women might be found (like nightclubs).

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: rmnunez Its hard to imagine a more inappropriate venue for Bush to make a pitch to Iraqis than a nightclub, remember at least the opposition takes a dim view of these western ways and likely frowns on places where drinks and women might be found (like nightclubs).

I think it's even harder to imagine a more inappropriate venue than for bush to sneak into the country unannounced, steal the spotlight and claim some credit for the work and sacrifices that others have made, then sneak out again under cover of darkness with all the lights turned off. If things in Iraq are really going as well as bush would like us to believe, then why didn't he get out amongst the ordinary people and do a few photo ops meeting his adoring and welcoming supporters? He should have posted a new sign similar to the one a couple of years ago on the carrier - "Mission Accomplished" (his approval rating went up 5 points, the real reason for the trip).

[RickSp]

The insurgents may have found a difficult but effective new tactic. If they can capture a US soldier or two, it will tie down a large US force and lead to the widespread sweeps that are sure to alienate the local Iraqis even further. This will also cause the US to be spread even thinner as it will no longer leave three soldiers alone to be ambushed.

Pity the US leadership isn't as smart. Time to leave the Iraqis alone to fight their own damn war. As long as the US remains as a crutch they will never be ready.

[rmnunez]

An al-Qaida-linked group said Monday it was holding captive two U.S. privates, one from Texas and the other from Oregon, and taunted the US military for failing to find the soldiers despite a search involving more than 8,000 Iraqi and American troops.

This despite the fact the critical left has repeatedly told us stories of "foreign terrorists" are Bushian baloney, that the unrest there has something to do with the "resistance" to "occupation" by an "insurgency", presumably made up of patriotic Iraqis fed up with the foreigners.

The Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization for a variety of insurgent factions led by al-Qaida in Iraq, offered no video, identification cards or other evidence to prove that they have the Americans. The group had vowed to seek revenge for the June 7 killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, in a US airstrike.

I don't understand why "an umbrella organization" would be needed for what the critical left estimates at most could be about 200 non-Iraqi "insurgents".

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060620/D8IBLDDO2.html[/quote]

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: rmnunez This despite the fact the critical left has repeatedly told us stories of "foreign terrorists" are Bushian baloney, that the unrest there has something to do with the "resistance" to "occupation" by an "insurgency", presumably made up of patriotic Iraqis fed up with the foreigners. I don't understand why "an umbrella organization" would be needed for what the critical left estimates at most could be about 200 non-Iraqi "insurgents". http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060620/D8IBLDDO2.html

[/quote]

What has any of this to do with "foreign terrorists"?? And what's the difference between "an umbrella organization" and the phony "coalition" we've put together? And still you carry on with your insinuations that all who oppose our involvement in Iraq are the "critical left". Time for you to get a clue.

[gr8fuldaniel]

You all notice they are calling this a kidnapping? They are not POWs because its an occupation.

[Boetie]

rmnunez posts: I wonder what Bush's visit, and whatever "photo ops" he had, has to do with the capture of the 2 soldiers

Bush Jr's photo opt was designed to give the false illusion that things are going great there. The two soliders that have been captured gives a different picture.

Bush Jr was the one that claimed to be a uniter and not a divider. There was a time when the Sunnis and the Shias lived in the same neighborhood in peace. Since this war in Iraq the Sunnis and Shias has gotten into a turf war. The neighborhood will never be the same again.

Bush Jr split three tribes apart big time. The puppet government shouldn't be the measuring stick to judge Iraq by, rather it should be how well the people at the grass root is getting along and truth be told they are killing each other.

So the point of my post was to hold up to ridicule the bogus boy Bush Jr claims that Iraq is just hunky dory by challenging him to go to a hostile Sunni local and try to play up how great the Shias are and or vice versa.

Someone once told me I should never explain myself and as many of you can see I never take that advice, to my regret.

[The Dag]

If only your government would let the troops do what they do best, without continual interference which is based on media speculation, the quicker they could quit that rat-hole and return home. No foreign power has ever been able to stop Muslim factions fighting each other. "The Dag

[Apeman81]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel You all notice they are calling this a kidnapping? They are not POWs because its an occupation.

Perhaps you would like to elucidate on this assertion?

[rmnunez]

The puppet government shouldn't be the measuring stick to judge Iraq by, rather it should be how well the people at the grass root is getting along and truth be told they are killing each other.

The various ethno-cultural groups populating Iraq are better represented now than they were with the almost exclusively Tikritian administration under Saddam's clans.

Most if not all ethnic violence in Iraq can be traced through its instrumentalities to either Iran or Syria, rather than to foreign occupation.

There is an ethnic power-play underway in Iraq and its resolution will have substantial impact on "race-relations" across the Gulf, this is something that could have and should have been considered more carefully, but also is complicated by the occupation and resistance thereto.

Inclusive policies, proportional representation and an integrated cabinet are positive elements contributed to the "puppet" government by the military occupation. This is a step forward for justice and equity thanks to united statian interventionism.