Militants in Basra Free Journalist

This image taken from video made available by a local cameraman Friday Aug. 13, 2004 shows a man, identifying himself as James Brandon, 23, who claimed to be working for the Sunday Telegraph. In London, Sunday Telegraph Deputy Editor Matthew d'Ancona said the newspaper was pursuing reports that Brandon had been taken hostage. Gunmen abducted a British journalist from his hotel in the southern city of Basra after shooting him twice in the leg, officials said Friday. Britain's Foreign Office confirmed that a British national had been abducted in Basra. (AP Photo)

1 posted on 08/13/2004 7:58:28 AM PDT by TexKat

al-Sadr is negotiating the safety of his own hide. He doesn't want to upset our Marines.

2 posted on 08/13/2004 8:02:28 AM PDT by itsinthebag

A video grab taken from television footage released on August 13, 2004 shows journalist James Brandon in Iraq. Gunmen kidnapped the British journalist in the southern city of Basra on Friday and threatened to execute him within 24 hours if U.S. forces did not pull out of Najaf. The gunmen later said they would release Sunday Telegraph reporter Brandon after Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's office intervened. REUTERS/HO

3 posted on 08/13/2004 8:04:09 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

Truce my a$$. One of ours is one too many to have lost their life in that hell hole. Soldier killed in Najaf fighting

4 posted on 08/13/2004 8:07:11 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

Re #1 & 3.....It doesn't look like the same man?

5 posted on 08/13/2004 8:20:04 AM PDT by Guenevere

I believe it is the same man.

The mustache is the same as well as the eyebrowns and nose.

Just different lighting and angle makes it look like it's not.

6 posted on 08/13/2004 8:58:39 AM PDT by Bigh4u2

Sorry!

Meant 'eyebrows' not 'eyebrowns'.

7 posted on 08/13/2004 8:59:34 AM PDT by Bigh4u2

I agree -- those features match. In the 'hostage' picture, tho, he seems to be about 20 lbs lighter, 15 maybe. His face is slimmer.

8 posted on 08/13/2004 9:00:33 AM PDT by bboop

A video grab taken from television footage released on August 13, 2004 shows British journalist James Brandon after being freed in Iraq. Gunmen kidnapped Brandon in the southern city of Basra, threatening to execute him within 24 hours if U.S. forces did not pull out of Najaf, but the Sunday Telegraph reporter was later released after Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr intervened. REUTERS/Reuters TV

British journalist James Brandon arrives at the Basra offices of radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr, August 13, 2004. Gunmen kidnapped Brandon in the southern city of Basra, threatening to execute him within 24 hours if U.S. forces did not pull out of Najaf, but the Sunday Telegraph reporter was later released after al-Sadr intervened. REUTERS/Atef Hassan

British journalist James Brandon (C, seated) is driven to an Iraqi police station in Basra, August 13, 2004. Gunmen kidnapped Brandon in the southern city of Basra, threatening to execute him within 24 hours if U.S. forces did not pull out of Najaf, but the Sunday Telegraph reporter was later released after al-Sadr intervened. QUALITY FROM SOURCE REUTERS/Atef Hassan

9 posted on 08/13/2004 10:42:23 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

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