150 hostages and 19 deaths leave US claims of Iraqi 'peace' in tatters

[DoYouEverWonder]

17 April 2005

Iraqi and United States-led forces were last night preparing to launch a rescue mission for up to 150 Shia hostages held by Sunni insurgents.

The threat by Sunni militants in the town of Madaen, south of Baghdad, to execute the hostages unless Shias leave the area, intensified the growing sectarian fears.

The upsurge in violence across Iraq in the past four days has left claims made by the Pentagon that the tide is turning in Iraq and there are hopeful signs of a return to normality in tatters.

At least 17 Iraqis were killed during the day and two US soldiers were reported dead after a series of attacks.

Ironically, one reason why Washington can persuade the outside world that its venture in Iraq is finally coming right is that it is too dangerous for reporters to travel outside Baghdad or stray far from their hotels in the capital. The threat to all foreigners was underlined last week when an American contractor was snatched by kidnappers.

more...

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=630159

[Connie_Corleone]

1. Freedom is on the march!!

They hate FREEDOM!!

:sarcasm:

[daleo]

2. And frequently, the U.S. military just shoots reporters itself.

That's bound to have an effect too.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. The truth seems to be in conflict with the press and the wh

about this, the economy, education, and so on.

[Robbien]

4. Violence in Haiti, Irai, Sudan, ect. What's the difference. We know nothin

Very little is being reported and as long as we know what is going on with Michael, all is well with the world.

[number6]

5. insurgency running out of steam

but not bombs, guns, bullets, volunteers ...

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Or oil for that matter

they just keep cracking open those pipelines and taking whatever they want.