Breaking News
Obama Talks While Americans Are Kidnapped
- Three Americans were kidnapped in Iraq over the weekend.
- The state department won't comment on their identities except to confirm that they were civilians.
- It is still unknown who kidnapped the Americans with no parties being ruled out.
- Security in Iraq has eroded since the Islamic State moved in.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces fanned out across the Baghdad neighborhood Monday morning where three Americans were reportedly over the weekend, closing streets and conducting house-to-house searches.
An Iraqi government intelligence official told The Associated Press the Americans were from their interpreter's home in the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Dora. The occurred, the official said, after the Americans were invited into the home of their interpreter. The individuals were then taken to Sadr city, the official said, “after (the ) all communications and contact stopped in Sadr city.”
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the press.
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A local policeman in Dora said the individuals were taken from their car on Saturday along a highway in southwest Dora while driving to Baghdad International Airport. The two differing accounts of the events could not immediately be reconciled. The policeman spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the press.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed Sunday that “several” Americans have gone missing in , after local media reported that three Americans had been in the Iraqi capital.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Scott Bolz said, “We are working in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities to locate the missing Americans.”
Bolz did not identify the missing Americans or say what they were doing in .
State Department spokesman John Kirby said that “due to privacy considerations” he had nothing further to add about the missing Americans. “The safety and security of Americans abroad is our highest priority,” Kirby said.
Col. Steve Warren, the Baghdad based spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group, confirmed that the individuals were civilians.
The comments by U.S. officials came after the Arab news channel, al-Arabiya, citing its own sources, reported that three Americans had been by militias inBaghdad.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility. in have been carried out by the Islamic State group, Shiite militias and criminal gangs often demanding ransom payments or seeking to resolve workplace disputes.
Following the IS takeover of second largest city Mosul and large swaths of territory in the country's north and west, has witnessed a deterioration in security as government forces were sent to front lines and Shiite militias were empowered to aid in the fight following the collapse of the Iraqi military.
Last month a Qatari hunting party was in south by unidentified gunmen and their whereabouts are still unknown. In September 18 Turkish workers were from their construction site in Baghdad's Sadr city by masked men in military uniforms. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi blamed organized crime for the . The workers were released later that month.
Associated Press writer Murtada Faraj contributed to this report.
14 Comments
Obama only cares about his legacy and making sure his ops are positive. He had misled the American public on too many occasions. His SOTU address was despicable and full of lies from the state of America’s security to the actual unemployment numbers. He can no longer be trusted because he does not speak the truth.
As long as i can remember ,YOU NEVER NEGOCSATE WITH TERRORIST,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look at the facts , Obama gives away every thing , in deference to enemy !!!!!!
Because all this POS does is lie.
If you are not a soldier, you have NO BUSINESS in Iraq. When will they learn?
{ don’t what’s wrong with soreheads senators and congress men. Obama should have been out of office 5 years ago. Obama ought o go back to Africa and climb a tree, he would be right at home.
Iran hits the JP, and now this, a coincidence? Kidnapping pays, more to follow.
I do not trust Obama. Never did and never will. Obama is a Islamic Muslim sympathizer that is no good for America.
OBAMA “TALKS” WHILE OUR AMERICANS ARE KIDNAPPED. (???????)
IF IT HAD BEEN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT–EXCLUDING OUR TROJAN HORSE SITTING IN THE OVAL OFFICE AND HILLARY–TO ADD TO THE LIST–ANY OTHER PRESIDENT KNOWS TOO WELL YOU CAN’T “TALK, REASON OR USE LOGIC” WITH THESE TERRORISTS.
IF ONE STUDIES THEIR INSANE KORAN SHARIA LAW–TO DECAPITATE ANY ONE WHO DOES NOT ACCEPT BECOMING A MUSLIM—THEN ADD ANOTHER LAW TO COVER THAT LAW UP—- TO QUESTION THAT LAW MEANS DEATH ON A CROSS, DECAPITATE–ACCURATELY DESCRIBES WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE—TOTALLY IRRATIONAL, UNREASONABLE, TOTALLY INSANE—.
IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK OUT ANYTHING WITH THEM AND NOW TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE—THIS INSANE PRESIDENT OF OURS WHO IS SUPPORTING FINANCIALLY THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST–150 BILLION FOR WEAPONS, 50 BILLION TO PAKASTAN, NOW ANOTHER 1.2 BILLION TO IRAN RIGHT AFTER THEY RELEASED OUR 12 SAILORS FOUND IN IRAN WATERS—WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT 1.2 BILLION–AN APOLOGY BECAUSE OUR SAILORS ACCIDENTALLY LANDED IN THEIR WATERS? ALL THIS MONEY IS COMING FORM AM. TAX DOLLARS—AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT OBAMA “TALKING” TO MIDDLE EAST WHILE OUR AMERICANS WERE KIDNAPPED —ANY OTHER PRESIDENT WOULD BE BLOWING THE HELL OUT OF ISIS. YOU DON’T “TALK” TO THESE TYRANTS–THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND IS TO GET BOMBED OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
This is a sad day for Americans , this makes every American overseas a target for Kidnaping . While Obama was praising himself over the Iran deal for Hostages . There was 3 more Americans Kidnaped in Iraq .I am sure they will want their payday for them . Obama has made all Americans unsafe around the world !
If we are deep in the READ WHY is he giving away that kind of money for the trade why not just an even trade
I suppose he’s the only President to negotiate with terrorist regimes. Maybe you need to review history.
President Obama is weak,and caters to anything the Muslims want. The peace with Iran is a slap in the face for Americans
the cockroach in chief has absolutely no reguard for anything but blacks/muslims and isis. he has been working night and day to destroy this country.black lives matters is a communist front for soros and his minions, and he is financing all of the discord that the idiot in chief is stirring up. only a TOTAL IDIOT would even consider negotating with any muslim over prisoners.they will say ANYTHING to a non-muslim ..they will NEVER HONOR ANY DEAl with a non-muslim… COME ON TRUMP……