The two missing US soldiers found - "tortured"

This may play wrong and this may sound bad, but at least it's over for these two poor soldiers. I have a bad feeling that we may soon see a video release documenting their last days.

The bodies of the two soldiers, Kristian Menchaca, 23, and Thomas L. Tucker, 25, were found in a brutally "tortured" condition, General Abdul Aziz Mohammed of the Iraqi defense ministry said.

"The two US soldiers were found in the Yusifiyah area near the power station and unfortunately their bodies show that they had been tortured and then killed viciously," the general told a news conference.

Looking at the adverbs being used in description, "brutally tortured," "viciously killed." I fear it's worse than my imaginings. Their bodies were found dumped in the street near the town Youssifiyah.

(In the AP version, "appeared to have been killed "in a barbaric way."")

UPDATE: They appear to have been beheaded, and the bodies showed other significant signs of abuse. But, Tony Snow sees it as a positive development that two US soldiers were abducted, subjected to torture, and beheaded:

(After Hadley answers a question, "brutal enemy," "any loss of life is a source of great regret.")

MR. SNOW: Let me add one other point, which is, David, as you probably read, in the aftermath of this there had been military activity. So maybe the most significant thing is a considerable amount of actionable intelligence has come out of it. We are seeing evidence that the Iraqi people are also sick of this. You saw it in some of the communications that have been aimed towards Zarqawi.

And you see in the aftermath of an episode like this that the Iraqi people are also stepping forward to try to be of assistance.

(Tip to Cartledge for the SMH link.)