4000 troops search for 3 missing soldiers.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/world/middleeast/14iraq.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

BAGHDAD, May 13 — About 4,000 American ground troops, supported by surveillance aircraft, attack helicopters and spy satellites, swept towns and farmland south of Baghdad on Sunday, searching for three American soldiers who disappeared Saturday after their patrol was ambushed, military officials said.

The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella insurgent group that includes Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, said it had captured the three missing Americans and claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed four other American soldiers and an Iraqi Army soldier. The group offered no proof for its claims.

The intensive search coincided with two deadly car bombings in Baghdad and northern Iraq that killed at least 55 people, wounded 155 and further underscored the challenges facing the American and Iraqi security forces, which have been unable to thwart such attacks by the Sunni Arab-led insurgency despite the infusion of new American troops.

The ambush of the Americans occurred near Mahmudiya, a predominantly Sunni Arab farming town south of the capital that has been a battleground between Sunni Arab insurgents, Shiite militias and Iraqi and American security forces.

[izzie]

1. Hard to read about these men after the last time they got

a hold of some Am. Course they feel the same about us I guess. Wars are such a waste of people and goods. How one can ever forgive the waste is hard to see.

[angstlessk]

2. Isn't this the same thing that stopped the last 'surge'? Kidnapped

soldiers? the two who ended up tortured to death?

[Eagle_Eye]

3. Next they will bring out the psychics

The psychics will read Tarot cards and walk around with dowsing rods looking for the soldiers.
Bush will do his part. He will go on vacation in Crawford to rest up for the next phase.

[sheerjoy]

7. Such pain

well, you know he and Lawrah suffer so over these matters - more than anyone!!!:sarcasm:

[HereSince1628]

4. Every surge looks great until the first contact with the enemy

As a nation the US is not ready, willing, or able to sustain this.

[leftchick]

5. "Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia,"???

who thinks this shit up?

[maine_raptor]

6. Gotta be a TDS fan.

But they changed the spelling. Should be: "Mess O'Potamia"

[Bluebear]

13. :)

[partylessinOhio]

8. The world is watching......this looks like the height of incompetence.

4000 can't find 3. Could 40,000?

Bush will destroy us and our country. Impeach to stop this criminal!

[durtee librul]

9. A diversionary tactic?

Ok, so while all our guys are out looking for our missing boys (girls), what is al queda REALLY up to?

Anyhow, I agree with the previous post about Bush taking a vacation - ain't he about due? After all Memorial Day is coming and I am SURE he don't want to be in DC where all the REAL vets come to celebrate and honor their counterparts.

He's been 'working too hard' lately anyhow...especially with the white tie dinner and all........you know larnin' all that queen stuff was hard wurk.

[Philosoraptor]

10. Saving Private Ryan, times three.

[Squatch]

11. I really pray that those soldiers are found soon.

Although, previous instances similar to this one portend a gruesome outcome.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. So, they'll need another surge to replace the 4000?

The question is rhetorical. Of course they will.

[jazzjunkysue]

14. "soldiers duty status unknown,." Tony Snow.

Well, actually, Tony, if they haven't reported to their commanders, and they're not down at the local Hooters, they're being held captive, like their captors reported to THE NEWS.

So, they're status is not in fact unknown.

Any more than the status of this occupation is unknown. It's a total failure.