Al-Jazeera Claims American [hostage] Is on Video

Associated Press via Yahoo! News ^ | 2005 Apr 13

[Wiz]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Al-Jazeera television broadcast a video Wednesday that it said showed an American who had been kidnapped two days before.

The U.S. Embassy said the man on the video appeared to be the same American contract worker abducted earlier this week from the Baghdad area. Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan said the man's name was Jeffrey Ake, but gave no further details.

The tape showed a man sitting behind a wooden desk as three men pointed their guns toward him. He was holding what looked like a passport and a photo identification.

The station didn't broadcast the tape's audio, but said the hostage asked the U.S. government to start a dialogue with the Iraqi resistance. It also said the man asked the U.S. government to begin withdrawing from Iraq and to save his life.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

[Wiz]

It is very likely that this group is a local Sunni group having ties with Muslim Scholar Association. It is unlikley this group is Al Qaeda of Iraq.

[cripplecreek]

I noticed there wasn't the usual banner on the wall behind them.

[scuret]

God help this fellow. The report indicated that he was from Indiana. If this is him (http://www.equipmentexpress24.com), then he looks like a respectable, self-made American businessman.

[Bigh4u2]

That's quite a statement considering the limited facts, about the captors, brought forth in this story.

What makes you think it isn't Al Qaeda?

If Allawi is involved, it may well be.

Not enough facts here for me to make that assumption tho.

[camle]

i dunno, the last hostage they had was GI Joe.

[Red Badger]

Link is bogus......

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[Calpernia]

That link didn't work.

[Calpernia]

bump

[KurtAZ]

So...they want to talk to the US government...why don't they go ask their govt about starting a dialog? The US doesn't give in to Terrorists. Guess they haven't figured this out.

I still think we should start videotaping GitMo detainees and everytime they kill a civilian, we send them a video of a detainee's murder. Yeah it is stooping to their level, but if I remember right, Islam still believes in an eye for an eye.

[LYSandra]

Why aren't these workers and the soldiers for that matter have chips implanted in them? They do this to dogs why not the workers there in Iraq? They could be found and the the terrorists killed. Anyone?

[Wiz]

What makes you think it isn't Al Qaeda?

Months ago, local Sunni groups have been engaging for a dialog and a conditional cease fire with the coalition force and the government. This was mentioned several times by certain news source. Al Qaeda is less likely to engage in a dialog and compromise because of their extremism. Al Qaeda's strategy of hostage taking is give a very limited time for withdraw of coalition force of the nationality of that hostage. Different from this pattern, the hostage takers asked for a dialog, unlikely for Al Qaeda. There is similarity in terms of request for withdraw of troops, but the irregularity is the ask for a dialog. On the other hand, local Sunni groups have been searching for an amnesty and cease fire, which matches the pattern of this hostage taking. Therefore, I believe that the hostage takers are local Sunni Iraqi groups, or at least Iraqi groups.

[kendu]

http://www.equipmentexpress24.com/

[KurtAZ]

Would you willingly submit to having a GPS chip placed in your skin? I know I wouldn't.

[LYSandra]

I think on dogs they put in their tooth. Also can be removed when you return - I think yes I would if it meant keeping my head attached to the rest of my body!

[Wiz]

Implantments using IC chips can only be detected at a limited distance. It will reuqire a larger system with a large battery pack to be detected at long distance. That will allow the device to be exposed and taken away. Due to sensitive information that could be exposed in the terrorists' eyes, I prefer these ideas not to be discussed.

[LYSandra]

I didn't know that but you would think there would be something that could be used so this stopped happening. So much out there in the way of devices-computer stuff-just guess I was thinking in this day and age......

[Bigh4u2]

You may be right in your assessment but without the complete facts on who these captors might be, I will reserve judgement.

The story did mention that 'No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction' so you may be right.

Thanks.

[rabidralph]

[KurtAZ]

There is something...it is called ridding the world of terrorists. All the technology in the world isn't going to help a kidnap victim when his captors are intent of executing hem/her. All we can do is go after the ones responsible.

The funny thing is...it sounds like the "insurgents" are getting desperate. Wanting to open a dialog with people they find morally reprehensible and infidels. Of course if the US actually responds to them, doesn't that lend some sort of legitimacy to their organization?