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.
Someone send this to Brit Hume...at Fox News.
I've got some stuff to do right now, could alla y'all do it for me? :o)
Yeah, I'm looking for the weapons to my gransons GI Joe Marine.
Are any of the addresses I posted in #200 for Brit?
No problem :-)
btt
Way to go, BR!!! Awesome work!!!
Thanks for owning up. It looks like this one was actually a win for the bloggers.
:-)
I (along with many others) have sent word of your find to Drudge.
I (along with many others) have sent word of your find to Drudge.
(Let me add with credit to 'BlackRain.'
Boy, you aren't kidding. I think maybe you nailed it. My first impression was that maybe a jihadi had dressed up like a US soldier, but after seeing your post, it looks like you could be onto something.
WOW!
When I first saw the pic I thought.......that looks like a toy.
Thanks for posting that.
And the best part is seeing the wire services shoot themselves in the foot, in real-time. After all, if local news outlets start feeling like they have to vet stuff that comes in off the wire, that it's not gospel after all, then the wire services start losing their grip on the national news...
They are so concerned with being the first on a story that the facts are secondary.
I just emailed my local CBS affiliate (Keye in Austin) with the news. They were blaring this headline earlier.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.