US commandos rescue American hostage near Kabul

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

US commandos rescue American hostage near Kabul

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer
2 hrs 1 min ago

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. Special Forces soldiers freed
a kidnapped American working for the Army Corps
of Engineers during a nighttime mission last week —
a rare hostage rescue in a country where ransom
abductions have become increasingly common.

The American, who had been working on U.S. government-
funded infrastructure projects, was abducted in mid-
August and had been held just 30 miles west of Kabul with
no public notice of his abduction. The dangerous mission
to free the U.S. contractor killed several insurgents,
U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

Taliban militants have kidnapped several international
aid workers and journalists in recent years and have
been paid large ransoms or negotiated the release of
imprisoned Taliban fighters in exchange.

But increasingly aggressive crime syndicates are also
raking in big money by kidnapping wealthy Afghans and
foreigners and demanding ransoms.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081022/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_american_hostage