The reported finding of the corpse of one of the missing American soldiers
As posted immediately below the independent Iraki newsagency Aswat Al Iraq (Voices of Iraq) are reporting the finding of the corpse of one of the captured American soldiers. According to the report a spokesman for the green zone government Ministry of Defense, said on Sunday, that a combined American/green zone government force found two days ago the body of an American soldier captured about six months ago, in an area 60 Kilometres north of the city of Hilla.
The soldier has been missing since gunmen launched an attack on an American observation post near Mahmoudia south of Baghdad, on the twelfth of May last. During the attack which was complex and well-organised the attackers killed four soldiers patrol and an Iraqi interpreter.
The gunmen captured three other soldiers. The so-called Islamic State of Irak claimed the responsibility for the attack.
The American army immediately launched a massive campaign of searches, in which thousands of American and green zone government soldiers searched the areas south of Baghdad and north of the city of Hilla during the most intense phase about 900 people were questioned intensively and 36 detained. American planes dropped leaflets offering a reward of $200 thousand dollars to those who gave information about the whereabouts of the missing soldiers. The so-called Islamic State issued a video (see report of June 4th 2007 under the heading "Late Breaking Report: for screengrabs) in which a speaker on the video said:
“Fearing the occupying army will continue its searches, harming our Muslim brothers … (the Islamic State in Iraq) decided to settle the matter and announced the news of their killing to cause bitterness to God’s enemies”
At least two American soldiers died during the search for their missing comrades, and several others were wounded.
The body of Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr. was subsequently recovered on May 23rd from the Euphrates near Musayyib.
According to Aswat al Iraq’s report the green zone government Defense Ministry spokesmen said that the body was recovered when a hideout was stormed and that 4 people have been detained in connection with the discovery.
It should be noted that the spokesman did not provide any other details about the storming operation or its context, and whether finding the dead soldier was based on specific information … Or by chance.
At the time of writing there has been no official statement from the Americans about the matter.
However we are inclined to believe the report first because there was a big sweep north of Hillah 2 days ago followed by intense activity and also because the last time the green zone government Defense ministry got an announcement like this wrong they got very badly burnt by their American masters.
Saba Ali & Mohammed Khader Hashi
