The authorities say they cannot provide figures for exactly how many kidnappings have taken place since the beginning of the year, but some estimates suggest the number could be as high as one per day.

Brig Gen Faisal Mohsin, a senior police commander in Baghdad, told the BBC he believed at least some of the ransom money was funding insurgent activity.
"Iraqi forces have become more professional now, and they are on high alert," he said, "pursuing all kinds of crime, and cutting off the sources that fund terrorism. So some of the terrorists have started financing their activities by kidnapping children."

The situation has become so acute in Baghdad that the ministry of education has instructed schools to take special precautions.

Sad. At least Saddam Hussein and his disgusting family aren't raping and killing women like they were before George Bush freed millions of them. Too bad our liberal administration doesn't care enough about these kids or women living under oppression to keep our troops there to blow those bastards committing these atrocities into kingdom come so they can spend their eternities with 72 male virgins that look like Kim Jong il.

But not surprised. When have liberals given a damn about women living under oppression. Since never.