Keep in mind that French "journalists" could easily be French intelligence officers undercover...
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 ...
Keep in mind that French "journalists" could easily be French intelligence officers undercover...
No doubt that Fallujah was a terrorist nest. I'm wishing the Marines success killing these pests.
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A Syrian driver Mohammed al-Joundi, shows how he was handcuffed after being freed by US Marines early morning in the center of Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites), Friday, Nov. 12, 2004. The U.S. military confirmed Friday a hostage found in Fallujah is Mohammed al-Joundu the Syrian driver abducted with two French journalists in August. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) |
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It would be really nice if we could find those French journalists alive. They have been a huge media story in France, and American troops would at least get some positive press coverage there.
I want to see if he can identify these two "journalists".
Go home and tell your friends about the Americans, Mohammed.
No doubt there to pick Chiraq's bribes "commission".
The french "journalists" were probably Froggie spies there to help the insurgents, or at least propagandize for them. I don't wish any person harm, but I won't wasted any sympathy for these froggies either.
The rescue of these hostages alone justifies the Fallujah offensive.
Glad the story is finally getting out. Rescuing just one hostage or prisoner of those animals justifies taking out Falluja....counting the two brothers rescued in another house, that makes 3 : one hostage and two prisoners
LIBERATORS !! Woohooo !!
I am so sick of this PC garbage. Why can't they just say "The three -- al-Joundi was the journalists' driver -- were abducted Aug. 20 while headed south from Baghdad to Najaf."
You don't read of people driving from Venice to the holy city of Rome, do you? Of course not.
France will still hate us. (Like I care if they do).
"Didn't we find two fake french reporters today that were actually french intelligence?"
I hadn't heard of these two reporters. Are they in addition to the ones kidnapped a couple of months ago?
Any one can confirm if there are a total of 4 French reporters kidnapped by the terrorists?
You mean a live hostage is more important than a global test? Surely you jest.
I don't know about 4 kidnapped. I was just wondering if the two this man saw, might have actually been the two french intelligent guys that we caught today and if two journalists were actually kidnapped to begin with. Probably a far reach but just something I thought about.http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1278401/posts
Thanks for that thread link, Cindy.
That makes sense now, and you may be right. In fact, they may as well be the fake ones. I wonder what they were doing in Iraq. Possibly looking for the two French hostages, or some ulterior motive?
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