NYT: U.S. Forces Seek 2 Soldiers Apparently Captured in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/world/middleeast/18iraq.html?hp&ex=1150603200&en=0492db48e6279b65&ei=5094&partner=homepage

<snip>

BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 17 — American soldiers began an intensive search on Saturday for two of their comrades who apparently were captured by masked insurgents after an ambush in the chaotic area south of the capital.

The two Americans, who were not identified, were taken prisoner at dusk on Friday by a group of guerrillas who mounted a surprise attack on their lone Humvee near the town of Yusufiya, according to Iraqis in the area.

The American command in Baghdad confirmed that two Americans had not been seen since Friday after a battle with insurgents who had attacked a traffic checkpoint they had set up on a canal crossing near the Euphrates River. One American soldier was killed in the raid.

"We are currently using every means at our disposal on the ground, in the air and in the water to find them," said Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the spokesman for the American military.

According to local Iraqis in the area, who were interviewed by telephone from Baghdad, the two American soldiers who survived the gun battle were led away by the insurgents to a pair of waiting cars.

[kenny blankenship]

1. No no no we KILLED Zarqawi, didn't you hear?

and that was the end of all unpleasant news from Iraq forever because his death righted everything that was going wrong over there and negated every malicious story spread by the liberal press about why we went to Iraq in the first place. Not since Jesus has one man's death done so much good.

And you want to take this salvation away from us? Well shame on you and the New York Times.

[krkaufman]

3. Unless the soldiers are found safe pretty quickly...

... it could snuff whatever ridiculous bounce Bush has experienced from the bombing of Zarqawi. Though I doubt the US media will say much about these soldiers, in order to stick w/ the mandated "stay the course" theme.

[saigon68]

11. Its another military SNIPE HUNT

The media will bury this turd of a story very quickly

[Igel]

7. The spin has yet to begin.

I'm sure it will.

Remember the al-Masri guy? New AQ head, per some sources?

Not a big deal, not nearly as bad as Zarqawi, yada-yada.

Remember his stomping grounds? No?

The 'triangle of death' south of Baghdad.

Where did the guys go missing?

The 'triangle of death' south of Baghdad.

A few days after the lower Egyptian is proclaimed tsar, troops are taken captive in his stomping grounds?

He must be a real threat, gotta stay and do something about him. Zzzz...

[Poll_Blind]

2. I think they would have been better off to fight to the death.

I know it's a harsh statement to make but this is soldiers we're talking about, not a bus full of kids on their way to church camp. Unless they get cut the sweetest break in the world, they're probably going to be executed on video after hours of the worst torture imaginable.

I remember hearing stories about how the Germans, at the end of WW II, would fight to the death against the Russians who they knew would likely disembowel them or worse if they captured them. To the Americans, they would surrender, because they knew that at least with the Americans they had some chance.

But after Abu Ghraib in Iraq and our own willingness to torture coming from the President himself- oh and don't forget "Brig it on!"...these men are, probably at this moment, going through just about the worst that humanity has to offer in the way of pain.

Despite what may sound cold-hearted, my heart really does go out to them. They are young, intelligent, thoughtful people who were swept up in a war over bullshit. They believed our lying goverment. They did the dangerous job they were asked to. Death is something no-one likes to face but for a soldier it is a flat fact that has to be considered. I think if these soldiers could see what would happen to them after being captured they wouldn't have surrendered.

This blood is on Bush's hands just as much as whomever executes them.

PB

[acmavm]

4. That's what I've been thinking, that soon the world will be seeing another

barbaric snuff film involving the decapitation of these two poor souls.

And not one word from the Decider. No public plea to save their lives. Nothing.

Whatta guy.

[jazzjunkysue]

5. Go team! Go team! This is FUN!

I hope our side wins! Our side is better!

Ok. For people who don't know my sarcasm: Translation:

80% of americans think everything on their TV is pretend, and just there for their amusement.

Now, every person who wanted this evil occupation has to be responsible for whatever happens to these two soldiers.

When will we wake up and realize that this is not a board game? There's no consolations prize. There's no lightening round. No halftime show. No audio daily double.

This is real and I'm surprised it's not been a weekly occurance.

Maybe we'll finally decide to get out, now.

[cliss]

6. I have a suspicion about this....

A thought that came to me as I was reading about this incident on another news group.

Is the notion that US troops are taken hostage seen as worse than having them killed? I think the concept of having Americans at the mercy of some foreign, hostile entity could be seen as worse.

And far more damaging to Bush's polls.

It invokes the image of weakness, complete helplessness: a VERY upsetting concept to the ordinary movie-watching American. Your fate now rests with others. Considering the way we've treated them, anything is possible. And of course, Americans know this. The images of Abu Ghraib are still fresh in their minds. This is a media issue: of MIA's, there's still hope to save them, a Cliff Hanger and Will they be rescued?

And note the response here from Gen. Caldwell: "We are currently using every means at our disposal..."

[daleo]

8. This seems to confirm that they are prisoners, not just missing

There was some discussion regarding that point on a thread yesterday.

[Finder]

9. Will be spun as a reason we cannot leave...

tsk.

[jazzjunkysue]

10. Yup. Heard that on Faux today, but the really underplayed it.

They know this is ultimately bad for their blood thirst and they're keeping it quiet for the most part.

back to arguing about the Duke rape case.