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.
Unusual that a soldier would be taken alone, especially since the one in the photo is all kitted out. If this isn't a hoax then that guy was definately in some place that he shouldn't have been when he was captured.
Dog and Blackrain and a few other freepers have uncovered a hoax the terrorists are playing on the American media.
Another Buckhead / CBS / Dan RatherMemogate Moment!
Credit to Tatze for showing me this.
Kevin.....found another thing..the snaps on the front of the vest match up......the vest on the soldier and the vest in the doll kit have the snaps in the exact same place on the vest.
Also, they painted the dolls eyes black so it would not give the doll eyes(doll stare) away. Look at the photo. His eyes have been blacked out.
Buckhead is dead. All Hail to the new Buckhead!
Excellent research work! I was suspicious with the name, "John Adam". I looked at the picture above and said that wasnt a real person. It looks like a doll. This confirms it. I figured someone was joking around with that picutre, but it is the same pic from the news story.
Way to go. The Pajamahadeen strikes again!!!
Then again he might be made out of plastic.
Wasn't me. Dog asked me to post this because he said on another thread there was something suspicious about the picture.
I don't know enough about uniforms to see it, but did think the vest looked like the pockets were filled with whatever typically goes in those pockers and that seems unusual that a captured soldier would be permitted to keep ANY equipment.
You nailed it! You can also tell by where the poured concrete wall meets the floor, and the way the flag curls at the ends. Definitely fake.
I think it's Reuters that got burned on this one and not AP, not that it makes much difference...
Wow, it really does look like that doll. Weird.
congrats!!
You can tell by the face also..
If possible, contact the Pentagon and let them know about this thread.
I sent it to Drudge with a link to this thread giving BlackRain the credit.
Drudge doesn't like us at FR but even he would appreciate this.
BTW, to send something to Drudge use the form on his site.
One thing I have noticed is that troops often only wear one kneepad.
Drudge is going to splash this all over. IT'S A FRICKIN DOLL!
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