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 ...
rules of engagement
Amen, La Ench.
When these soldiers' bodies finally show up on some islamonazi website, which liberal democrat (those saying that Insurgent POWs have protected status) will be the first to point out that our guys would be lucky to be in Gitmo instead of what's gonna happen to them?
You've articulated the inherent problems in trying to win the war while attempting to win the hearts and minds.
It cannot be done.
1) Kick ass.
2) Afterwards, when you have their attention, work toward reconstruction.
This plan seemed to work out very well in Japan and Germany.
Germany and Japan are very different cultures from Iraq's. Iraq alone host at least waring factions amongst themselves. I don't see a Japan/Germany outcome as likely. Germany had Hitler and was at that time one nation. One surrender although the nation was divided in the terms of surrender. Japans culture knew surrender as well. Iraq is nations within a nation it is tribal. They in one way or another have been at war since Ishmael's days on earth and the jealousy is that old likely older.
Iraq's final situation may end up like Tito's era in Yugoslavia. An Iron Fist Dictator who stays within his own borders. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't like that life. I've been inside what was then Tito's Yugoslavia. I won't forget it either as it was basically a police state. But how else would you keep the tribes from civil war? That was the idea behind us originally supporting Saddam to begin with. Saddam had higher ambitions. Tito was an exception to the rule.
You're right of course- and I was being overly simplistic!
The Iraq culture is VERY different than Japan or Germany.
Still- the point that you can't win hearts and minds at the same time there are ongoing combat ops is apt.
Re your post #28, well stated.
thank you
A military news release said the charges in the case include murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, communicating a threat, and obstructing justice.
The release said the unit commander ordered an investigation on May 9, the day the alleged murders occurred in the south of Salaheddin province, and the Army's Criminal Investigative Division is continuing the probe.
The soldiers charged in the case are in pretrial confinement, the release said, while it is determined if enough evidence exists to proceed with courts-martial.
thank you, TK.
U.S. Army charges 3 Fort Campbell soldiers in detainee deaths
Even a 6 member Seal Team was very vulnerable in an operation in Afghanistan.
With all due respect - You have no idea what you are talking about regarding the SEAL RT in Stan and their Op that went bad (because of simply Mr. Murphy showing himself several times in freakish ways). - Furthermore the type of Op those SEALs were on has been done virtually hundreds and hundreds of times throughout both Stan (and Iraq) and done with 100% success (often leading to even further successes) with 99% completely unaware of these successful Ops - And that is just the RT type OPs....not the DA Ops
As for this situation in Iraq - We don't know all the facts - It is that simple - It is also simply a reality that bad things happen in a war zone -
It also appears that there was some type of diversion which left these 3 momentarily vulnerable (as others soldiers stationed there responded to this event) - Though I still have a hard time swallowing that 2 non severely injured soldiers could be captured -
We have won the war in Iraq, got rid of Saddam, and a new government has been elected along with a written constitution approved by the people. We didn't continue to bomb Germany and Japan after they surrendered and a new goverment was in place. Who would you bomb or kick ass in Iraq now?
See#114
It is likely the other soldiers were injured in the explosion that killed the third soldier. It would also seem that the 2 were alive when they were taken away.
Never mind- just having a bad day..
from Drudge:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060619/D8IB8TSG3.html
7 U.S. Troops Wounded Looking for Comrades
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - 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 missing American soldiers.
Exactly right - Which is just another reason fighting this WOT (which includes inside Iraq) is such a difficult task. It is frustrating as hell? Without question at sometimes.
Does the actions of the Democrat party, world MSM and the lack of effort by the U.N. hurt our just cause? - Again, without question -
But on the whole we are making steady progress (amazing progress over the past 4 years in this WOT). And we will continue to do so -
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