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Length: 3:58
ANDERSON COOPER: We move
on now to Iraq, where kidnappings, even mass
kidnappings, are become the norm. Mainly, they
involve Iraqis.
Tonight, though, U.S. troops trying to locate four
Americans abducted earlier today in southern Iraq.
CNN's Michael Ware is following the developing story
for us from Baghdad. He joins us now.
Michael, what do we know at this about the
kidnappings? Are there any details yet?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, what we're
being told by the U.S. military is that an incident
took place yesterday afternoon at a checkpoint near
the southern town of Nasiriyah.
What we have established from other coalition sources
is that the attack apparently took place at an Iraqi
checkpoint, most likely an unofficial or illegal one,
yet that's still to be determined. There was as many
as a dozen vehicles, and up to 14 people may be
missing as a result of this attack.
Of that 14, there are reports from coalition sources
that four of the missing are American citizens, and
there may be a fifth foreigner missing, a European --
Anderson.
COOPER: So, how does this work? I mean, has any group
come forward to take responsibility? Or is that not
the common procedure?
WARE: Well, we do see that in many cases,
particularly those that have been motivated for
political reasons.
Most often, we have seen that take place with Sunni
insurgents, in particular, al Qaeda and some of the
other groups. However, it doesn't necessarily mean
anything that we have not heard from the kidnappers.
Perhaps they have no intention of making themselves
publicly known. We also see that happen quite a lot
as well.
And, remember, this happened in what's Dhi Qar
Province. This is an area that was transferred over
to Iraqi security forces for complete responsibility
back in September.
So, the coalition forces -- the Brits, the
Australians, the Italians who are there -- merely
protect very important logistics bases, and move
along the convoy routes and that's about it. So --
and this is in Shia militia-dominated territory. So,
it's clear that, most certainly, a paramilitary force
of some kind was involved here -- Anderson.
COOPER: You know, there are many different kinds of
kidnappings happening right now in Iraq. It might be
worth just kind of going through what the different
reasons that groups kidnap.
I mean, some of it is clearly just banditry. Some of
it is for money. Some of it has political meaning.
Some of it is sectarian, right?
WARE: Absolutely.
I mean, the most common form of kidnapping that
plagues not just Westerners, but also Iraqis, at
horrific levels, is kidnapping for ransom, criminal
gangs benefiting from hostage-taking. There is also
some degree to which insurgent elements use kidnap
for ransom, particularly of Iraqis, to fund their
operations.
More disturbingly, however, are kidnappings that are
motivated politically, such as the use of, you know,
Western hostages to pressure Western governments, or
sectarian-motivated, where members of a particular
sect are kidnapped and killed -- Anderson.
COOPER: And, just briefly, are they still beheading
people? Or does that seem to have sort of lessened?
WARE: No, that still takes place. And, principally,
that's been labeled as a signature of some of the
more extreme Sunni groups, whereas some of the more
extreme Shia groups, in their sectarian-motivated
killings, generally seem to have a pattern of
torture, one of the most prominent features being the
use of drills to drill joints and into the body, and
execution by gunfire -- Anderson.
COOPER: Unbelievable.
Michael, Michael Ware, appreciate it. Stay safe,
Michael.