Update: Apparently the report cited below stating the Russians were released was denied the next day - but the only news mention of it comes from Turkey. With the WaPo links below dead, I assume they buried the story rather than corrected it. Not sure that's the most ethical approach to handling it. As far as I can tell, neither Reuters nor the WaPo ever corrected the story on line.
Catching up on the news of our missing soldiers reminded me of a previous post which left me curious about the Russians in Iraq. New reports suggest this group is the one which kidnapped four Russians in June. They were let go the next day.
And a day later: Iraqi state television, meanwhile, quoted Interior Ministry officials as saying four Russian embassy employees kidnapped in Baghdad have been released. The embassy said it could not confirm this.
And this: Initial reports said Russian Special Forces rescued the hostages, now we're being told they were simply set free. I can't think of one other foreign national kidnapped suddenly turning up unharmed the next day, let alone four.
A police official earlier dismissed reports that Iraqi special forces had rescued the four Russians, who were abducted on Saturday in Baghdad after their colleague was killed.
Isn't one logical conclusion that the Russians were caught up in a terrorist encounter by mistake and their connections are so good with the jihadists that they were simply released? Like they say, with friends like that ...
Stay up to date on developments via Michelle Malkin and Blogs of War.
My heart goes out to these brave young men and their families, and let's hope we hear some good news soon.
And when the troops are having to fight evil animals like these, political correctness should not mean they are having to fight with one hand tied behind their backs!!
Posted by: annie | Monday, June 19, 2006 at 04:17 PM