Thread: Source: U.S. tried twice to rescue hostages

Source: U.S. tried twice to rescue hostages

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The United States tried twice to rescue the two Americans and one British citizen held hostage in Iraq, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the attempts.

The attempts involved deploying U.S. military as well as other government personnel on two separate occasions. Intelligence led the rescue teams to two locations in Baghdad, the official said.

Both times, the source said, the missions came up with "dry holes."

There was evidence at both locations that people had been there, but they were empty when the U.S. teams arrived, the official said.

"A lot of people had a lot of sleepless nights trying to find them," the official said.

It's not clear whether the hostages were moved, or whether the intelligence was faulty and the hostages were never there.

Americans Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley, along with the Briton, Kenneth Bigley, were kidnapped September 16 from their home in Baghdad.

The first rescue attempt came when all three men were still alive, the source said.

The second attempt came after Armstrong was killed September 20, the source said.

All three hostages were eventually beheaded. According to the official, no U.S. personnel were wounded or killed in either mission.

The U.S. military does not discuss specific details of rescue missions or the intelligence that led the missions to be undertaken. But U.S. Special Forces train constantly for rescue missions, and the United States has said it always searches for hostages and tries to do everything possible to rescue them.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...ain/index.html