Al-Qaida says it has missing U.S. troops

AP ^ | 5/13/07 | THOMAS WAGNER

[NordP]

Well said. Ditto.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Question for the ‘Rats: Happy now?

The Democrats are VERY happy today. These soldiers are just fodder for them to throw under the bus in their all-encompassing campaign to destroy the Administration and Republicans and grab power for a generation. That's the only game in town, ever, for Democrats.

They've got the straw-man well set up, so that any bad news at any time is good for them.

[bnelson44]

YOUR ACTION REQUESTED BY SOME TROOPS IN IRAQ: Please spread the word about an appeal for redress that people in the military can sign to show support for the mission. They are having problems getting the word out:

www.appealforcourage.org

If you haven't seen this yet: A campaign by active-duty troops asking Congress to drop plans for a withdrawal from Iraq. Lt. Jason Nichols, a 33-year-old naval projects officer who has been in Baghdad since mid-January, said the goal is to keep lawmakers focused on letting the military finish its mission in Iraq, and not prematurely declare failure

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7392499685041821301&hl=en

Petitions for civilians:
http://www.townhall.com/ref/surrender
http://www.gopetition.com/online/11574.html

[don-o]

It's like going to the zoo to teach the animals democracy.

That is exactly right. We are stuck inside a box.

[FreeReign]

Al-Qaeda holding US troops captured in Iraq

Ron Paul:Fighting over there has nothing to do with preserving freedoms here at home.

[FreeReign]

I think it’s more likely Sunni insurgents were invloved in the attack and took dead or dying soldiers with them so as to mutilate and booby trap the bodies. But, if Al-Quaeda is involved and they do post videos of these men being brutalized, then it’s time to end the surge and start “winning dirty”.

If?

Al Qaeda has been involved with the so-called civil war the entire time.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
“If we fought WWII with the Nazi’s knowing that they could attack and retreat to their homes under the cover of women and children, we would have lost that war.”

Twelve year old Nazis were killing Allied soldiers until the last day of the war in Europe and there were no German cities left to speak of. It took two nukes and a multitude of fire bomb raids to convince Japan to give it up.

Strategic bombing to destroy the enemy’s war making ability works but doing it to scare them into surrender, as far as I can see, just pisses them off.

More to the point, what targets are you wanting to obliterate? I guess I would be happy to see the borders between Iraq, Syria and Iran, and Afghanistan and Iran turned into free fire zones, but I would rather see infantry, arty and tac air doing the job.

Michael Frazier

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

4th Battalion, 31st IR, 2nd BCT of the 10thID are responsible for this FOB. They had two others KIA ten days ago in seperate incidents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t know how many units are there,,,I do know my
house-mate’s Son is in 2nd.Brg.10th.Mt.Div.~Task Force 2/15
Field Artillery~~~Been there a year as of April 13~07~~~
Just got word last week that they got another extension,,,
till the middle of November(19 mo. total)
They’ve been doing Raids and Road Patrols in that AO since
they got there...

[scannell]

free fire zones

yes I like that, only with a lot of tonnag and chase them all into Iran or Syria.

[bnelson44]

Five Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Three Missing
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2007 – Five soldiers were killed in Iraq today and three others are currently missing following an attack near Mahmudiyah, a senior U.S. military officer reported.
“This morning at 4:44 a.m. in Iraq, a coalition force team of eight soldiers (seven Americans and an Iraqi Army interpreter), were attacked 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said in a written statement. “As a result of this attack, five soldiers were killed in action and three are currently missing.”

A nearby coalition unit heard explosions during the attack and unsuccessfully attempted to establish communications. Coalition forces arrived within an hour, secured the site, and immediately initiated a search, Caldwell said.

The general said coalition forces are currently using every means at their disposal to find the missing soldiers, and will continue these efforts until all are accounted for.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those killed in this attack and for the missing soldiers and their loved ones back home,” Caldwell said.

The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending final identification and notification of next of kin.

The specifics are as follows:

— Coalition forces heard an explosion at 4:44 a.m. this morning about 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah;

— After an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two burning vehicles, a quick reaction force was dispatched, arriving on scene at 5:40 a.m.;

— The quick reaction force reported finding five members of the team killed in action and three others whose duty status and whereabouts are unknown;

— Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle, and fixed wing assets are being used to search in the vicinity;

— Checkpoints have been established throughout the area in a concerted effort to focus the search and prevent potential movement of missing soldiers out of the area;

— Coalition forces have engaged with local leaders to enlist their support in providing any information they can, and these engagements continue.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46000

[MEG33]

Amen

Indeed..I include their Mothers and families.

[SevenMinusOne]

Coalition forces heard an explosion at 4:44 a.m. this morning about 12 miles west of Mahmudiyah;

— After an unmanned aerial vehicle observed two burning vehicles, a quick reaction force was dispatched, arriving on scene at 5:40 a.m.;

That it took an hour for a QRF to get to the scene is flat out wrong.....In this area of Iraq. If this turns out to be accurate, this QRF was a goatfk.

As for the 3 missing soldiers....I still believe it is extremely remote for 3 U.S. soldiers to be taken alive. Most likely they were KIA at the scene...God bless them all.

[Bringbackthedraft]

“But, if Al-Quaeda is involved and they do post videos of these men being brutalized, then it’s time to end the surge and start “winning dirty”. ............... Its time to use the USMC play book used at Tulagi 1942.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

TANKS for the info,,,from what I read yesterday,,,
Lt.Col. Morchauser(sp)(the CO) was out there himself
leading the troops in the search,,,

[wtc911]

Same unit, Second Brigade is 2nd BCT. I do a lot at Drum and know a bunch of these folks.

You can follow a censored chronicle of Xth Mtn through the Fort Drum site and their paper The Blizzard.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Good morning.

Has it been confired that the Xth Mtn, 2nd BCT is the unit involved?

[I see my hands]

Electing a president strong on social issues will fix everything.

[wtc911]

Not as far as I know but this FOB is their’s and they have taken casualties there very recently.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks.

[EternalVigilance]

Electing a president strong on social issues will fix everything.

Meanwhile, three to four thousand American babies are slaughtered daily in America.