Iraqi Forces Free 15 Shiite Families

[rodeodance]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20050417/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Iraqi Forces Free 15 Shiite Families

9 minutes ago




By THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi security forces raided a town in central Iraq and freed some 15 Shiite families being held hostage on Sunday, an official said, after Sunni militants threatened to kill dozens of captives unless all Shiites left the area.

The government said it was trying to resolve the standoff peacefully, while Shiite lawmakers called for action to stop "terrorist groups from promoting sectarian violence."

Security forces, who had the town of Madain surrounded, began raiding sites Saturday in search of those abducted, said Qassim Dawoud, the minister in charge of national security.

Witnesses said road blocks were set up and no one was allowed to leave or enter the town of about 1,000 families some 15 miles southeast of Baghdad. But shops opened and the streets were calm.......

[shadowknows69]

1. good news

how about that one American that was pleading for his life on TV the other day?

[Teaser]

2. None of this happened.

People actually in the town deny any kidnappings at all.

Almost hilarious.

[HardElection]

4. The CIA isnt even trying anymore...

They know the american people today will buy anything regaurdless of how rediculous it might be.

[Cocoa]

3. this whole story is fishy

A resident reached by telephone said the militants had returned early Saturday, shouting through loudspeakers that all Shiites must leave or the hostages would be killed. Later, residents said the town appeared calm and there was no sign of insurgents. Some said they had seen no evidence any hostages had been taken. The conflicting accounts could not be reconciled.

[Roland99]

5. 15 families...or...no familes?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/international/middleeast/17cnd-iraq.html?hp&ex=1113796800&en=da82c737449152c9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[dArKeR]

6. I'm waiting for Al Qaeda to claim responsibility on their website

[Frederik]

8. LOL

"A lieutenant of notorious evil genius Abu Muzab al-Zarqawi said today that al-Qaida has suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Iraqi forces. The comment was posted on al-Qaida's official website. Its authenticity could not be independently verifed".

Or something like that.

[NYC Liberal]

9. Yeah right. Al Qaeda saying they had suffered a "humiliating defeat"?

I call bullshit.

[Frederik]

7. Hoax

according to other residents of the city... Wouldn't be the first time Iraqi forces have been reported to do wonderful things and it turns out it never happened.

[NNN0LHI]

10. Yahoo has now scrubbed the headline above and this story

Here is what the link in the original post above goes to now if you click on it:

Iraq Kidnap Reports May Be Exaggerated

NEAR MADAIN, Iraq - Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. troops had the town of Madain surrounded Sunday after reports of Sunni militant kidnappings of as many as 100 Shiites residents, but there were growing indications the incident had been grossly exaggerated, perhaps an outgrowth of a tribal dispute or political maneuvering.


The town of about 1,000 families, evenly divided between Shiites and Sunnis, sits about 15 miles south of the capital in what the U.S. military has called the "Triangle of Death" because it has become a roiling stronghold of the militant insurgency.


An AP photographer and television cameraman who were in or near the town Sunday said large numbers of Iraqi forces had sealed it off, supported by U.S. forces farther away on the edge of Madain.


The cameraman said he toured the town Sunday morning. People were going about their business normally, shops were open and tea houses were full, he said. Residents contacted by telephone also said everything was normal in Madain.

And American military officials said they were unaware of any U.S. role in what had been described as a tense sectarian standoff in which the Sunni militants were threatening to kill their Shiite captives if all other Shiites did not leave the town.

more

I don't think I will be posting any more AP articles if I see this fellow Thomas Wagner's name on it. Look at some examples of his crappy writing. He should be cleaning toilets, not working for AP.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=tus&q=THOMAS+WAGNER%2Bap%2Biraq&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web

[NYC]

11. Same subject, different story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1401362

Sent to Rescue Shiite Hostages, Iraqi Troops Find None

What is anyone supposed to believe?