The United States believes the increasing spate of hostage abductions in Iraq reflects a new strategy by a loose confederation of insurgents designed to increase public pressure on the U.S.-led multinational force and other foreign interests to abandon Iraq because bombings and other terrorist tactics have not had sufficient impact, according to U.S. officials. U.S. officials said they detected a turning point in April when random abductions based on “targets of opportunity” and random access to foreigners evolved into a more regular and calculated pattern. Based on interviews with released former captives, Washington believes that many of those abducted end up in the hands of a fluid network of cells.Full Story