[MikeA]

I predicted this would happen long ago. We should NEVER have left 3 soldiers alone at a checkpoint. At the very least 3 back up soldiers should have been positioned 20 or 30 yards away for defense in case of something like this. I knew these Al Qaeda pukes were going to try to kidnap some of our soldiers for revenge in the death of Zarqawi and that it would likely happen at a checkpoint. I took comfort in thinking however Iraqis were running most checkpoints now. Why they were not running this one I do not know. Anyway, besides the obvious heartbreak over what will happen to these men, we can kiss the good news from Iraq over the last couple weeks goodbye with endless reruns of beheading footage now which will send anti-war fervor through the roof. I'm sorry, but this was just stupid of the Army to have not seen this coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

[rottndog]

Yeah, the new head of Al Qaeda needs to make a statement, and what a way to do it. But we need to wait for an investigation to see what happened before coming to conlusions--and in the mean time Pray, Pray, Pray for these soldiers' safety.

[MplsSteve]

Mike, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Maybe there are more knowledgable military types on here who'd think differently.

Only three soldiers at a checkpoint in a heavily Sunni area?

And it took 15 minutes for a rapid-response team to arrive?

Am I wrong here or does it seem like we may be spread a bit too thin in parts of Iraq?

I pray these two troops were not captured and doing escape and evasion right now.

[SevenMinusOne]

I predicted this would happen long ago. We should NEVER have left 3 soldiers alone at a checkpoint. At the very least 3 back up soldiers should have been positioned 20 or 30 yards away for defense in case of something like this. I knew these Al Qaeda pukes were going to try to kidnap some of our soldiers for revenge in the death of Zarqawi and that it would likely happen at a checkpoint. I took comfort in thinking however Iraqis were running most checkpoints now. Why they were not running this one I do not know. Anyway, besides the obvious heartbreak over what will happen to these men, we can kiss the good news from Iraq over the last couple weeks goodbye with endless reruns of beheading footage now which will send anti-war fervor through the roof. I'm sorry, but this was just stupid of the Army to have not seen this coming. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Shut the hell up! Regarding a situation in which you know nothing about - Along with your negative BS regarding all the good our soldiers have done will be for nothing "as anti-war fervor will go through the roof" - That is complete BS!

This is a war zone. Sh*t goes wrong. It is that simple. Our warriors know and accept this - And the level of credence you give to a bunch of anti-war pathetic putzes is ridiculous.

God bless these men and their families. Our warriors will get them back and serve justice to those responsible. Of this I have no doubt.

[roverman2K6]

I totally agree, the ARMY does not ever seem to learn like the Marines, they are totally unequipped for this type of warfare, sorry Army guys, but in this type of theater they should be cooks and leave the fighting to the Marines

[operation clinton cleanup]

Thanks for your uplifting comments. Nobody has been beheaded yet.

[nmh]

Yes it is stupid ... but pray hard their usual glee doewns't happen on video. These brave men do not deserve this kind of fate.

Pray HARD for them. This is heartbraking.