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.
Kidnap Barbie? they would not dare!
Wait a minute think of the merchandising opportunities?
Barbie comes with camp x-ray "look and feel" jumpsuit (figure hugging and tailored by Prada of course). And her own ransom note......
LOL!
Help is on the way.
Whew. Take a deep breath. Say a prayer. Many prayers Edited on Tue Feb-01-05 01:42 PM by Tinoire
And it's a brother too! Probably some poor kid from a poor family who never heard squat about Free-trade or PNAC. God-damn I hate this system!
The worst is. Does his family even know yet? Or is this how they're going to find out? From the internet. My God.
The horror - what if they break his hand and ruin his Kung-Fu Grip?
I just hope they don't kill Kenny!
I emailed the pictures to the Kimmer show in Atlanta. He read my letter about the soldier being a toy and has posted the pictures on his site.
Hi Kimmer, if you took my advise and are reading this thread.
Excellent work...
But questions were raised about the authenticity of a photo purporting to show a hostage with a gun to his head. The figure in the photo appeared stiff and expressionless.
Liam Cusack, of the toy manufacturer Dragon Models USA, inc., said the image of the soldier portrayed in the photo bore a striking resemblance to a military action figure made by the company.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54222-2005Feb1.html
KERRY: "I'll sign DOD form 180 if that action doll does!"
Okay, thanks! . . . I finally got a look at what y'all are talking about in post #443.
Just Great!. Just heard the news that some liberal judge says we have to give the prisoners (not all but some) at Guantanamo the right to protest their imprisonment by filing a legal document. I forget the legal jargon. So... they have constitutional rights against being held but our guys just get beheaded.
yup just saw that on DU...
They're saying that this is a hoax generated by Bush to distract from the Gonzales hearings.
OMG...I am dying here.
The WashCompost now has the its a hoax story.
This seems to obvious to be true. Does anyone have a link to the actual web site?
I just heard. Thanks for doing that. Kimmer sounded like he was going to choke he was laughing so hard.
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