"Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms " Still Kidnapping Iraqis by the Dozens

[leftchick]

I imagine the sight of any Iraqi in uniform is pretty frightening these days....




A woman grieves after her brother, among others, was kidnapped by gunmen at a Baghdad branch of Red Crescent December 17, 2006. Gunmen in police uniforms kidnapped dozens of people at Red Crescent's office in central Karrada on Sunday, the same day as British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in the capital to meet Iraq's embattled leaders. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ)


Baghdad kidnapping sows terror as Blair backs Iraq PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/wl_uk_afp/iraq

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The latest in a series of mass kidnappings spread terror in Baghdad as Prime Minister Tony Blair made a suprise visit to support his embattled Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki.

Up to 30 men were hauled off at gunpoint Sunday from a branch of the Red Crescent medical aid agency in a smart downtown area by a gang of 50 gunmen sporting police uniforms, the second mass abduction in Baghdad in three days.

The hostage-takers, jumping out of around 10 pick-up trucks, raided the Red Cresent building in Karada in broad daylight, snatching between 20 and 30 men but leaving women behind, a security source said.

<snip>

Meanwhile, a short distance away another gang -- again in the uniforms of the Shiite-dominated security forces -- shot dead one Sunni local councillor and kidnapped three more from their car, a security official said.




http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061217/bagdad_crescent_061217/20061217?hub=TopStories

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms staged a mass kidnapping on Sunday at the office of the Iraqi Red Crescent in downtown Baghdad, police said.

An official of the Iraqi aid group said the assailants abducted 20 to 30 employees and visitors, but left women behind. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

<snip>

On Thursday, gunmen in military uniforms kidnapped people from a commercial area in central Baghdad, police said. The attackers drove up in about 10 sport utility vehicles and began rounding up shop owners and bystanders. Police said 50 to 70 people were abducted, but at least two dozen were later released.

Last month, gunmen in Interior Ministry commando uniforms abducted scores of men from a Higher Education Ministry office building. The Education Ministry is predominantly Sunni Arab. About half of the victims were released.

[sam sarrha]

1. Quit LYING ..they ..ARE ..Iraqi ..ARMY ...GUNMEN..

[Sparkly]

3. Do you think they're acting under orders then,

or acting on their own?

And why?

[sam sarrha]

5. It is a CIVIL WAR.. the troops are recognized a group called Cobra Unit.. they know who they are and

what and why they are doing.. it is probably a unit in league with Sadar and he is essentially in control now.

i believe it is the Cobra unit.. or something similar.. for gOD's sake they drive Brand NEW
government vans and SUV's and no one is willing to mess with them cause they are in control

http://seatletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003289757_iraq05.html hope it works, that is the address.. Just GOOGLE: iraq death squads there are dozens of articles telling it was an army unit.

What the HELL do you EXPECT with NEGRAPONTE, the Butcher of Guatemala-death squad organizer and murderer of over 80,000 peasants.. with his filthy hooks in the government.. that is why they called him back to help them F*ck things up.. killing innocent civilians.. they need Chaos to continue stealing 100's of Billions of dollars.

[Sparkly]

6. But what I'm trying to understand is whether you think they're part of the army

that the US has been training?

Any links appreciated, too.

[sam sarrha]

10. OK... LINK>> the key is Negraponte.. he was involve in the death squads in Honduras and Guatemala

and most likely El Salvador ..google him on death squads..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6802629/site/newsweek

http://www.afrocubaweb.com/negraponte.htm that is the address, i cant get it to work

just change 'Iraqi' death squads...and Google: 'NEGRAPONTE death squads' and get an eye full

[Sparkly]

2. Uniforms

The fact that the various militias don't wear uniforms and can't easily be identified, and the fact that uniforms are being used this way, makes it virtually impossible for people there to know who they can trust.

I also see it as a concern because I don't trust that we know who we are training in the army.

And, what message did they want to send by doing this just after the Red Crescent vp said the American forces are more dangerous than the Iraqis, who, he said, are respectful of the Red Crescent's role? What on earth do they want to get out of this?

[nealmhughes]

4. Even the Nazis were in awe of "The Swiss" when the IRC came to visit POWs.

What kind nation is this when they abduct Red Crescent workers?

What kind of nation? One that in the throes of chaos...and semi-organized chaos at that, perhaps the worst type.

Every local poobah has his own Committee of Public Safety, and there is noone to apply the reins.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Who do you suppose outfitted and trained these death squads in uniforms?

Any idea?

Don

[Sparkly]

8. If they were part of the US-trained Iraqi army

(and I'm not saying they weren't), wouldn't it be a better strategy NOT to wear the uniform while doing something like this? Why would they do that?

[NNN0LHI]

9. Maybe they wear them to be able to pass through American checkpoints?

Just a thought.

Don

[sam sarrha]

11. they are part of the USA trained Iraqi Army.. LINK> they are trying to spinn this out of existence

http//:www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6802629/site/newsweek

when i heard Negraponte:the butcher of Guatemala .. i knew this would happen.. all the IRAN CONTRA people are massing in the white house

[MetaTrope]

12. Taking the men and leaving the women

Isn't that exactly what American troops were doing in Iraqi villages the first year or two of the occupation?

[wryter2000]

13. Stupid news media

One article says police uniforms, and the other says army. They're not the same thing. The people of Iraq have been terrified of the police for some time.