Masked gunmen took U.S. troops, Iraqi says

The proof that the US are losing control of Iraq is in the fact that seven gunmen have kidnapped two US troops from a checkpoint and taken them kidnap.

Aren't the people manning the checkpoints supposed to be the people in charge? And what does it say about the authority of the occupying army when their own soldiers can be kidnapped in this way?

U.S. troops, backed by helicopters and warplanes, fanned out across the "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad searching for the two missing servicemen, but the military offered no new information after saying Saturday that at least four raids had been carried out.

The predominantly Sunni region is the scene of frequent ambushes of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi troops.

Ahmed Khalaf Falah, a farmer who said he witnessed the abduction of the Americans on Friday, said three Humvees were manning a U.S. checkpoint near Youssifiyah, about 12 miles south of Baghdad, when they came under fire from many directions.

Two Humvees chased after the assailants, but the third was attacked before it could move, he told AP. Seven masked gunmen, including one carrying what appeared to be a heavy machine gun, killed the driver of the third vehicle, then took the other two soldiers captive, Falah said.

Falah said tensions were high in the area as U.S. troops raided some houses and detained men in looking for the missing soldiers. He said the Americans were setting up checkpoints on all roads leading into the area of the attack and helicopters were hovering at low altitudes.

A Youssifiyah resident, who said his house was searched by U.S. soldiers Sunday afternoon, said the Americans were using translators to offer $100,000 for information leading to those who took the soldiers.

The U.S. military denied a reward had been offered. It said only that coalition and Iraqi forces were continuing the search and "will continue to use every resource available."

The man in Youssifiyah said he would not cooperate.

"I will not do it even if they pay one million dollars," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution. "They deserve all that they are facing ... we are living a hard life because of them."

White House spokesman Tony Snow said he could not confirm the two missing soldiers were abducted, but he told "Fox News Sunday" that anybody who might be holding them should "give them back."

"Obviously, there is a vigorous effort to try to locate them and to bring them back safely," he said in an interview with CNN.

This is simply beyond belief and further proof, were any needed, that the US is losing the war in Iraq. The first thing any occupying force is required to do is to restore order.

The US have been unable to restore order since the day they entered Iraq. This comes down to one thing and one thing only, Rumsfeld put in too few troops.

I've said it before, but that asshole should be fired.

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