Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Background on the kidnappping and rescue.

MNF-I:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Based on intelligence sources, Multi-National Force-Iraq has identified Arkan Hasnawi, a former brigade commander in Jaysh Al Mahdi, as responsible for the kidnapping of Shi’a and Sunni tribal leaders from Diyala Province yesterday. The tribal leaders were returning to Diyala from their meeting with a representative of PM Maliki when they were kidnapped passing through Sha’ab, Baghdad.

Arkan Hasnawi’s actions clearly demonstrates he has chosen to dishonor Muqtada Al Sadr’s cease fire order and that he has joined forces with Iranian-supported Special Groups that are rejecting Muqtada al Sadr’s direction to embrace fellow Iraqis.

While many members of Jaysh al-Mahdi are fulfilling Sadr’s pledge of honor to stop attacks, reduce the violence, and foster reconciliation among all Iraqis, Arkan Hasnawi and his gang of criminals continue to intimidate and terrorize innocent Iraqi citizens, taking actions that mirror the tactics used by Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

MNF-I will work with the Government of Iraq to secure the safe release of the Tribal Sheiks and to bring to justice those responsible for this dishonorable act.

The Coalition Forces continue to stand with the Government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment made by Muqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. Those who have honored Sadr’s pledge are helping to build the new Iraq, participating in constructive dialogue, supporting security efforts, and working within the political process.

LAT:

U.S. military officials c declined requests for interviews to explain how they zeroed in on him. Sadr spokesman Abu Hawra disputed that Hasnawi had been a commander in the Mahdi Army.

Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed Askari would not say whether Hasnawi was among the kidnappers who were captured or killed. He said intelligence reports led the Iraqi soldiers, under the leadership of the U.S. Army commander for east Baghdad, to a farmhouse between the east Baghdad Shiite enclave of Sadr City and the Khan Bani Saad farm region in Diyala province.

Askari said Iraqi soldiers were working to free the other sheiks but did not give details.

Families of the sheiks were still waiting for news of their fates Monday after they received word of the rescue. One family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said in an interview that he called his father’s cellphone, only to have a kidnapper answer the line and utter a vulgar Arabic expression before hanging up.