Kidnapping explodes in Iraq, as pool of potential victims widens

[BeyondGeography]

By Patrick Kerkstra and Nancy A. Youssef
Knight Ridder Newspapers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - There's a simple explanation for the kidnapping epidemic in Iraq, which grows worse day by day: The tactic works.

Whether their aim is political, financial or simply to terrorize, hostage-takers here often get what they want, Iraqi officials and security experts said Thursday.

<snip>The pool of targets has widened as well, to include women, journalists, wealthy and middle-class Iraqis and anyone - foreign or native-born - whom the hostage-takers deem as someone who cooperates with U.S. forces or the interim government.

<snip>While kidnappers might prefer to snatch Westerners, if only because they tend to fetch higher ransoms, Interior Ministry officials said everyone was at risk.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9681858.htm

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. The rw heads insist that the "insurgency" represents a tiny

fraction, perhaps a few hundred people, primarily "outsiders". So this couldn't possibly be an issue:dunce:

[maxsolomon]

2. to iraqis, its THE issue

where was the plan, george? haven't you read sun tzu?

oh, right: you don't read.

jesus, john! HAMMER HIM! half-baked plans don't win a war!