Two U.S. Soldiers Captured By Taliban In Afghanistan

From Bare Naked Islam:

Two new beheading videos to follow?


I hope not. Afghan insurgents captured two U.S. soldiers and are holding them in southern Logar province, a Taliban official said today.

A NATO statement today said the two service members left their compound the previous day in Kabul but did not return. A Reuters correspondent in Logar heard local radio broadcast appeals offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the safe release of the two. The statement did not identify the pair by nationality but U.S. officials said they were American.



Samer Gul, district chief of Charkh district in Logar province, said today that a four-wheel drive armored vehicle was seen last night by a guard working for the district chief’s office. The guard tried to flag down the vehicle, carrying a driver and a passenger, but it kept going, Gul said.



“They stopped in the main bazaar of Charkh district. The Taliban saw them in the bazaar,” Gul said. “They didn’t touch them in the bazaar, but notified other Taliban that a four-wheel vehicle was coming their way.”



The second group of Taliban tried to stop the vehicle, but when it didn’t, insurgents opened fire and the two occupants in the vehicle shot back, he said.



One of the captured soldiers was described as about six feet tall weighing 220 lbs with blond hair and brown eyes. The other was described as 190 lbs, bald with a thin mustache. Both men have tattoos, and were last seen wearing U.S. military camouflage, the broadcast said.



Violence in Afghanistan has risen sharply since a reinforcement brought to 150,000 the number of foreign forces facing the Taliban and two other insurgent groups. NY POST