Iraqi rebels target female U.S. soldiers

Baghdad, Iraq, Jul. 1 (UPI) -- Terrorists in Iraqi rebel leader Abu Musab Zarqawi's network have been instructed to kidnap a female U.S. soldier, the Washington Times said Thursday.

"We have heard through intelligence channels that several extremist organizations are attempting to capture coalition servicemen and women," said a senior military officer in Iraq. "We have instituted additional force protection methods to thwart these attempts."

Of the 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 11,000 are women. They work as drivers, medics, aviators, police and clerks. By law, they are banned from land combat, but they still come into close contact with the enemy.

The defense source told the Times Zarqawi's network wants to further shock the West by kidnapping servicewomen and displaying them on videotape.

He also said the terrorists might be planning "payback" for a U.S. female soldier seen taking part in the abuse of Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has authorized an increase in the reward offer for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Zarqawi to $25 million.

Zarqawi has had a long-standing connection to the senior leadership of al-Qaida and his organization has committed numerous atrocities in Iraq in recent months, including the beheading of American citizen Nick Berg.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040701-073711-3913r.htm