Posted on 11/12/2004 10:33:34 AM PST by SmithL
FALLUJAH -- A Syrian found handcuffed in Fallujah and rescued by U.S. Marines was kidnapped with two French journalists in August, and has told authorities he last saw the Frenchmen a month ago -- the first confirmed word on the captives since they disappeared in August.
Marines sweeping through Fallujah as part of a major U.S. offensive against insurgents located Mohammed al-Joundi, the U.S. military said, but there was no sign of journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot.
The Marines said the Syrian, who was found late Thursday, told them he was separated from the journalists a month ago. The location of the house where he was discovered was not disclosed.
The three -- al-Joundi was the journalists' driver -- were abducted Aug. 20 while headed south from Baghdad to the Shiite holy city of Najaf. A militant group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq claimed responsibility and demanded France revoke a new law banning Islamic head scarves from state schools.
Al-Joundi said they were ambushed on the highway by men in two cars -- a white Mercedes and a Korean-made vehicle, Marine Capt. Ed Bitanga said.
At one point, the Syrian was interrogated by his captors in a room where he saw a black flag with crossed swords, Bitanga said.
Although he was blindfolded at times, al-Joundi said he saw several other hostages, including two Czech nationals -- one of whom was injured.
More than 170 foreigners have been taken hostage in Iraq, and at least 34 have been killed. Several groups have claimed responsibility, including the Islamic Army in Iraq and followers of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian with links to al-Qaida. U.S. military officials have said they believe al-Zarqawi likely fled Fallujah ahead of this week's offensive on the city west of Baghdad.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I don't know. Sounds fishy. Or perhaps whishy...
Why would real French Journalist's hire a Syrian to drive them around? Why wouldn't they hire a local taxi driver that knows all the roads etc..
Ship the Froggy out....to the Ivory Coast.
You don't read of people driving from Venice to the holy city of Rome, do you? Of course not.
No, and you will never hear that or "the holy city of Jerusalem." Any reporter who wrote than would be accused of "bias." There is something condescending though in the way they describe these "holy" cities. But then political correctness is always condescending.
Waiting to see this on my local MSM news. Today their broadcast started with the latest Iraqi deaths, then the total American death count. No positive news at all.
Didn't we find two fake french reporters today that were actually french intelligence?
Knowing the French, they were probably embedded reporters...for the terrorists. :(
Haven't you heard? They are no longer the "mainstream media". They are now called the "old media".
I think that has a nice ring to it!
By the way, I did hear about this on A.B.S. news today.
You don't read of people driving from Venice to the holy city of Rome, do you? Of course not."
- Of course not. But a slightly altered pronunciation of the letters will give you the proper interpretation of what the reporter really meant.
Read it again, FRiend:
"...theShiitehole y city of Najaf"
There are many such aptly named cities in Iraq. In fact...all of them, according to what a returning soldier told me.
Regards
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