Posted on 02/01/2005 11:22:09 AM PST by Peach
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi militants claimed in a Web statement Tuesday to have taken an American soldier hostage and threatened to behead him in 72 hours unless the Americans release Iraqi prisoners.
The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of what appeared to be an American soldier in desert fatigues seated with his hands tied behind his back.
A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and he is seated in front of a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet."
A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, Marine Sgt. Salju K. Thomas, said he had no information on the claim but "we are currently looking into it."
A statement posted with the picture suggested the group was holding other soldiers.
"Our mujahadeen heroes of Iraq's Jihadi Battalion were able to capture American military man John Adam after killing a number of his comrades and capturing the rest," said the statement, signed by the "Mujahedeen Brigades."
"God willing, we will behead him if our female and male prisoners are not released from U.S. prisons within the maximum period of 72 hours from the time this statement has been released," the statement said.
The claim, carried on the Web site ansarnet.ws, could not be verified.
More than 180 foreigners have been kidnapped in the past year. At least 10 of them, including three American civilians, remain in the hands of their kidnappers.
The only American soldier known to have been taken hostage is Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, who was shown in a video in April being held by militants. Another video aired in June showed what purported to be Maupin's slaying, but the picture was too unclear to confirm it was him and the military still lists him as missing.
Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun went missing in Iraq in June and later photos surfaced on Arab television showing him blindfolded with a sword to his head. In July he made his way to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Back in the United States, he said he had been captured, but in December he was charged with desertion for the incident.
Ping
Post the photo....and the larger the better.
I am praying that this is just not true :(
dog - the photo is showing up for me. Is it just showing up as a red box for you or something? Cause I'm looking right at this young man.
Also does the M-16 shown look small?
Does anyone know how to make the photo larger? Dog has a question about something regarding this photo which is on Drudge's web site.
Heard any more?
Ok, somethings I'd like to point out... first, that vest, and those boots, they aren't military issue, if they are I've never seen em. Next, the mag in the M4 isn't issued I believe, it looks like a mag you would buy for civilian use.
It looks like an M-4, not a M-16. The vest though, looks odd. Doesn't look like anything I've seen on one of our soldiers. If this video is authentic, then they might have strapped explosives to him.
Post the photo and make it large.
Why leave the kneepads on the guy? In fact, do the troops generaly wear those? I hadn't noticed them before.
Holy crap.
It does look exactly like the doll for sale on the 'net.
I should have said...the clothes/uniform look like what's on sale on the 'net.
Did you ever consider becoming an investigative journalist? You just broke this story wide open.
Could this be a "Buckhead" moment?
I knew it......
The M-16 is clearly a toy.
That is the fakest name since Phil McCrackin
That would be GREAT news.
This doesn't look quite right but I am not sure. I would tend to think that they would remove things like the combat vest and kneepads if this was legit. Every other time we have seen captured soldiers they appear stripped down to fatigues or undershirt if I remember correctly.
Good eye, dog!!!!
I sure hope so. First, of course, because it means they haven't got another soldier. And second because...are they reduced to this?!
Seriously, my man - very, very excellent find :^)
They've resorted to capturing and holding dolls for hostage!!! LOL
Also here:
Iraq Group Says Holds U.S. Soldier
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1333518/posts?page=61,3
Wow...from look at that, I'm convinced that the video is a hoax. Good job on that find.
Also, now that I look more carefully at the screen capture of the video, notice how that black flag in the background has unusually large wrinkles/creases, which kind of hints at the real scale.
It is the vest....that did it for me.
Doll in front of a cinderblock with toy gun at his head.
Someone send this to Drugde. I'm not sure how.
Got that right! The gun is even included in the set... kneepads at the bottom of the box. Waiting to see how this plays in the media...
The paint job on the face seemed odd from the get go... like his face has too much red in it....
I may be wrong, but it appears there is no magazine clip in the gun.
Look at the nose ....then look at the dolls nose....look the same to me.
You're totally right. From the outset I thought the hostage looked like some sort of dummy.
I think we will be reading your name in the papers and hearing it on tv. I think you struck gold.
My sides are killing me over here. I'd have to say this "growing" insurgency seems to be scraping bottom. First they use retarded suicide bombers now they're threatening to behead GI Joe.
I have the pictures next to each other.. It is a fake story. Looks like AP was duped..
I agree. If they had used the other toy vest that came in the box (the green forest cammie one), then it would looked less suspect.
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