Baghdad Insurgents Apply New Terror Tactics

Terror propaganda supported by insurgents in Iraq acquired a new dimension over the week-end when two American soldiers, part of a team of about 12 GI's, equipped with three military Humvees, guarding a checkpoint near the town of Yusufiyah, about 50 km south of Baghdad, last Friday evening, were abducted. The respective area is known under the sinister name of the Triangle of Death.


In an interview with the Associated Press news agency, Ahmed Khalaf Falah, an Iraqi farmer and an eyewitness of the whole event, stated that the pack of 12 were fired upon from an area that completely obscured visibility due to the existence of palm trees. Part of the soldiers responded with fire and went after the attackers, bringing along two of the Humvees. Six masked gunmen attacked the third Humvee left behind, killing the driver and abducting the other two. Although rescue teams managed to get to the emergency area within minutes, they could only acknowledge the death of one American soldier and the disappearance of two others.

Many have speculated this was a very well-laid plan that envisioned dividing the troops and then launching the attack in order to seize the ones who could not withstand any fighting.

Rescue operations for the two have been unfolding during the whole week-end but to no avail. Civilian traffic was halted, while military helicopters searched the area and divers scoured the River Euphrates and other canals. Other ground troops launched a house-to-house search but no trace of the two GI was ever found.

If the two soldiers are found dead or a tape concerning their release in exchange for other things is sent, then this may signal a massive blow to the Bush administration which had just acquired new public support for managing to form the new Iraqi government and kill infamous terrorist leader al-Zarqawi, apparently establishing a degree of peace and stability in the area.