Hostage Taking Continues

Obviously a strategy. Seems awfully familiar. No Americans have been reported taken capitve yet, but the Brits aren't so lucky:

Briton Kidnapped in Southern Iraq Town

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A British civilian was kidnapped this week in the southern Iraqi town of Nassiriya, the scene of heavy fighting between radical Shi'ite militiamen and Italian troops, a coalition official said on Thursday.

The official named the man as Gary Teeley, a British contractor.

A Foreign Office official in London confirmed that Teeley was missing, but would not say what he was doing in Iraq (news - web sites) or comment on the manner of his disappearance.

"He is missing. We were first made aware of this on Monday, April 5. We are in touch with his next of kin and the appropriate military and civilian authorities. I don't have any further information," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

An active pattern of kidnapping civilians is afoot. Bargaining chipes from coalition partner countries. Ugly and getting uglier.

Definition

quagmire
noun [C]

a situation that can easily trap you so that you become involved with problems from which it is difficult to escape