Harsh Warnings About Captured U.S. Soldier

(CBS)  In the hunt for a soldier captured June 30, American forces are trying something new in Afghanistan - directly threatening the Taliban for militants who are holding him, reports CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark.

CBS News has recovered leaflets handed out to locals containing this blunt warning: "If you do not free the American soldier then you will be hunted."

The U.S. military has been heavily criticized by the Afghan government for civilian deaths - 900 have died this year alone. Officials say the new message is not meant to scare the local population.

"That is targeted at the enemy forces that are holding our missing soldier," said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker. "If you are not in that category then it is not directed at you."

CBSNews.com first broke this story Thursday morning in the World Watch blog.

The military says another leaflet meant for locals has been air dropped. This one a simple plea for information on the missing soldier.

The soldier, whose identity is being withheld by the military, was taken just as a major new U.S. offensive against the Taliban got under way. He is a bargaining chip the Taliban home to exploit. They've reacted to the leaflets by threatening to kill him.

"Is there a danger you could aggravate the kidnappers?" Clark asked Sidenstricker.

"Any time we try and communicate with the enemy or the local Afghan people we have to be very careful and we have to really think about what we are saying," Sidenstricker said.

The two leaflets, one threatening and one friendly, could be seen as a good cop, bad cop routine. But the U.S. military makes no apology for their tactics, all they want is their soldier back.

[joeu0230]

Support our troops. Bring them home NOW.

[tautomer]

by antoniof123 July 16, 2009 Stay and kill those that killed ours or leave.
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Any Al Qaeda who were involved in 9/11 are long gone from Afghanistan or dead. Heck that stuff is almost 8 yrs old and fully 2/3 of Al Qaeda leadership is already dead. Obama's War isn't about retribution for 9/11, it's about oil pipelines to the Indian Ocean and control of the Opium Trade. Try to think for once, man!

[tautomer]

Obama has targeted far more civilians that combatants, so this is nothing new. He's killed 900 civilians and about 50 combatants, all told....meanwhile losing a couple hundred American lives. Iraq was a far more advantageous battleground for the US. Casualty ratios (enemy killed per American life lost) will be far lower in Afghanistan than they were in Iraq.

Starting to wonder if Obama want's to corner the world Opium Trade to cover his multi-Trillion dollar deficits! Afghanistan will end up like Vietnam as Obama ties our troops hand with ridiculous rules of engagement, leaving them to be slaughtered while achieving nothing.

[pvperson3]

Ahhhhhh, show us more pictures of American soldiers in full battle armor teasing and playing with Afghan kids, it's so cute, what a shame that the same soldiers will easily bomb and slaughter those same kids tomorrow. I don't disagree that a war with Afghanistan was correct, but can't we cut back on the American propaganda a little? This threat from the Army shows more of what America attitude in the Middle East than anything else.

[freechoice4all]

tincup356 it is obvious you know absolutely nothing about the drones. it doesn't matter if your 10,000 miles away or around the corner if your watching the drone video. It is not only has great quality resolution video but these drones can basically hover for hours and hours monitoring a specific site or home. And they sure can tell if the people entering into a home or building are carrying Rifles.

Yes, some civilians have been killed but not the way you make it sound; and as far as them being innocent that is hard to say when the entire area supports the taliban.

[antoniof123]

The sad truth is they are already dead it is time to take this to the next level.

While I do not like it we have to decide go home or kill them.

The problem started when we chose to fight the cold war and help them over the Soviet Union did we make a mistake I don't know but is looks like it. Now we have to decide what to do. Stay and kill those that killed ours or leave. But if we stay we must commit to it not say oh well they are not the talaban it is all or none stop playing around.

[tiredofthebs]

The world would consider the captives WRONG if the military finds the soldier in pieces. It's clear that the US doesn't "scare" these militants. The military's arrogance could cost this soldier his life. Enough threats ..... find a way to win over the locals (instead of killing them). Their assistance could be valuable.

[tincup356]

And all the people of Afghanistan want is the US to go home. They are scared and tired from the drones killing anyone the US government calls a terrorist...how can someone tell looking at a TV camera 10,000 miles away? Innocent people are being killed so defense contractors can sell more weapons. Our government has no right to accuse any other country in the world of human rights violations, lest they admit to the pot calling the kettle black.