Monday, June 19, 2006

2 US troops captured in Iraq, massive manhunt in progress

These bastards have just called down the wrath of the world's foremost military. We will not rest until our men are found and these terrorists are brought to justice.

BAGHDAD — An umbrella group linked to “al-Qaeda in Iraq” claimed Monday that it had captured two American soldiers reported missing south of Baghdad as thousands of Iraqi and U.S. troops conducted a massive search for the missing men.
The group, called the Mujahedeen Shura Council, also claimed it had kidnapped four Russian diplomats and killed a fifth in Baghdad on June 3.

The message, which could not be authenticated, appeared on a website known for publishing messages from insurgent groups in Iraq.

“Your brothers in the military wing of the Mujahedeen Shura Council kidnapped the two American soldiers near Youssifiya,” the web posting said. It did not identify the soldiers.

The U.S. Defence Department identified the missing men as Pte. 1st Class Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Pte. 1st Class Thomas Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore.


An Iraqi farmer witnessed the capture of two and death of one of our soldiers by 7 heavily armed insurgents. Since the story broke on Sunday, the US has some 8,000 troops involved in the search and have thus far killed 3 insurgents and taken 34 others into custody.

Godspeed to the troops searching for their comrades, and our thoughts and prayers are with the two missing soldiers and their families as well as the family of the soldier who died in the attack that led to their capture.