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Iraq
American forces liberate more than 200 abducted in Muqdadiya (?true?)
2007-03-20
American forces liberated more than two hundred hostages yesterday in villages in the district of Muqdadiya the majority of which are Iraqi police.

In Diyala police source who wished to remain anonymous confirmed that American forces repositioned in the villages and Ashakragh Sensl close to the town of Muqdadiya carried out raids, searches and range of regions and the surrounding orchards.

He added that the American forces had found several prisons belonging to al-Qaeda and containing more than two hundred abducted hostages. The source explained that the majority of the abductees are the elements of the police who had been abducted at different times and over a period of months.

Linked source is in Arabic; translation is from Free Republic:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1803814/posts
Haven't seen it elsewhere yet, and seemed potentially significant enough to post here.
Posted by:Glenmore

#7  wxjames
No mention of well fed or lacking drill holes to the brain.
Posted by: 3dc   2007-03-20 18:35  

#6  Strykers did net a huge cache on Friday. May be related. LINK


The search resulted in the discovery of large amounts of munitions to include direct-fire
weapons systems such as a recoilless rifle, rocket-propelled grenade munitions, more
than 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, indirect fire munitions containing more
than 30 mortar rounds, and mortar-firing systems; and improvised-explosive device
materials to include approximately 300 blasting caps, detonation wire, batteries and
timers, and other terrorist documents.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2007-03-20 15:27  

#5  Glenmore, salt..hope it's true tho. ;-)
Posted by: RD   2007-03-20 14:14  

#4  It doesn't make any sense that al Q would feed 200 prisoners. To what end would a covert gang take on such responsibility ? Baffling !
Posted by: wxjames   2007-03-20 14:09  

#3  For a strange reason, I suspect this is true.

It has several elements that would seem to fit. Maybe trying to turn the hostages, fear of tribal revenge if they were executed, blackmail the tribes.

Add it all together and just maybe...
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-03-20 14:07  

#2  The original source seems to be a SCIRI outlet. The whole thing could be fiction, or part fiction, or largely true. If even significantly true, there could be good reason to delay official release, in order to exploit intel value. If not true, I have not figured out a motive for the story - beyond that of outlets like Weekly World News, etc. (entertainment), and SCIRI doesn't strike me as an entertaining outfit.
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-03-20 13:28  

#1  Good catch, Glenmore.
Posted by: Brett   2007-03-20 13:12  

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