Posted on 06/19/2006 5:40:20 AM PDT by areafiftyone
A terrorist group linked to al Qaeda says it has kidnapped two US soldiers in Iraq.
In a statement posted on the internet, it said the pair were snatched near Yusufiya.
American and Iraqi forces have been searching for two soldiers who went missing after an attack on a checkpoint near Yusufiya on Friday.
One solider was killed in the attack.
More follows ...
Prayers.
Just in time for the morning news cycle. Al Qaida, doing the work democrats won't do.
A terrorist group linked to al Qaeda says it has kidnapped two US soldiers in Iraq.
In a statement posted on the internet, it was claimed the pair were snatched near Yusufiya.
American and Iraqi forces have been searching for two soldiers who went missing after an attack on a checkpoint near Yusufiya on Friday.
One solider was killed in the attack.
The internet message said: "Your brothers in the military wing of the Mujahideen Shura Council kidnapped two American soldiers near Yusufiya.
"We will provide you with more details about the incident in the next coming days."
The authenticity of the statement could not be verified and no proof has been offered.
A website often used by Islamist militants carried the message.
The Council is an umbrella body composed of al Qaeda in Iraq and some other Sunni Islamist militant groups.
More follows ...
Here is a joint Reuters and AP report where they found "one" villager who would not accept even a million dollars reward for a tip ($100K being offered) because Americans deserve everything they get and brought trouble to the previously serene and bucolic region. Way to go hatemongering MSM.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13380881/
My concern is the press will take this completely out of context, turn it into a bigtime negative and make the terrorists look like they are winning.
Prayers for the two soldiers.
MSNBC is all over this story.
Next, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann will urinate and defecate on graves at Arlington.
Prayers for these soldiers and for Matt Maupin.
The Democrat glee for this will be their downfall.
Ya know, if I were a troopie, after seein' the beheading videos, I'd have to be in pretty bad shape for them to take me alive...
The morning news also says there are 8,000 soldiers searching for them..let's hope the intel they get brings a rescue or escape.
I'm sure there will be immediate calls from the left and the MSM for the two soldiers to be treated humanely and for the captors to observe all Geneva Convention rights. Right? (*crickets chirping*)
My crap detector is going off on this one.
Live or will it be reruns?
Yea I'm not too sure about this group but obscure Al Qaeda groups have abducted people before in Iraq.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/
June 19, 2006
Release A060619d
MNF-I spokesman provides update on missing Soldiers
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National Force-Iraq Spokesman Maj. Gen. William
B. Caldwell, gave the following statement June 19 concerning the two
Coalition Soldiers listed as duty status and whereabouts unknown:
"As you know, the search continues in earnest for two Coalition force
Soldiers currently listed as duty status and whereabouts unknown
after their security element came under attack at a traffic control
point south of Yusifiyah , Iraq , at approximately 7:55 p.m. local
time, Friday, June 16th. During this engagement, a third Soldier,
Spc. David J. Babineau, age 25, of Springfield , Mass. , sadly lost
his life in the service of his country.
"The two Soldiers reported as duty status and whereabouts unknown are
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, Texas , and Pfc. Thomas L.
Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore.
"All three Soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 502nd
Infantry Regiment of 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort
Campbell , Ky.
"Words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of Spc.
Babineau and the uncertainty the families of Pfc. Menchaca and Pfc.
Tucker must be experiencing. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their
families.
"Over 8,000 U.S. Military and Iraqi army and police are working
together, conducting an intensive search operation to determine the
status of these Soldiers. We are using every means at our disposal.
"While searching for our Soldiers, we have engaged in a number of
significant actions against the anti-Iraqi forces. The specifics of
these operations currently available for release are as follows:
three anti-Iraqi forces killed in action; 34 detainees taken into
custody; 63 tips received, to include 12 cordon and search operations
based on actionable intelligence; eight air assault operations; 280
flight hours flown.
"United States Navy and Air Force assets in support include fixed
wing fighter attack aircraft providing armed tactical overwatch; E-8
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or JSTARS, as well as
Predator unmanned aerial vehicles; three dive teams from Para Rescue
Jumpers; along with national assets of varying types supporting our
efforts.
"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.
"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.
"Seven U.S. service members have been wounded in action during these
search operations since Friday night.
"We are using all available assets, Coalition and Iraqi, to find our
Soldiers and will not stop looking until we find them. We will never
stop looking for our service members until their status is
definitively determined. We continue to pray for their safe return
and also ask for you to keep the families and friends of our missing
Soldiers in your hearts and minds, maintaining respect for their
privacy during this extremely difficult time."
A best of.
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