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.
Dog noticed something suspicious and asked me to post the thread and picture.
Black Rain has said a blog had this info first and he got some info from them.
We hear ya! LOL!
Kudos to the folks over at militaryphotos.net and to you for bringing their thread to our attention!!
FR...RUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!
Kool
The face of the doll and the 'soldier' look indentical.
to funny. FR is a very cool place
Top of the hours news break on Rush's radio show is only reporting the possible capture. Bwwaaahaa!
Is there a video of this? Or just this one picture?
Once you realize it's a doll it seems so obvious, doesn't it?
Poor Barbie.
Wow those terrorists are really something. They couldn't stop the Iraqi election and now they are kidnapping G.I. Joe dolls.
America trembles in fear.......hahahahahahahahahahahaha
I just heard the top of the hour news on the radio and they're still reporting it as a legit story! Damn, those guys are ON-THE-BALL!!
Send this thread to Rush.
The terrorists couldn't figure out how to edit their fingers from the video so they scrapped it! LOL!
"Hide your teddy bears, infidels!" LOL!!!
Will do, sent it to Drudge about 10 minutes ago.
He doesn't look human to me. His face looks like a wax model figure or a doll, call me nuts.
Peach just did.
I still give you credit. You knew to post your findings on FR to get the word out.
Good job!
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