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.
Will be back - have to check my Betty Boop Collection. They'd love to get their nasty terrorist hands on her Boop!
I'm almost tempted to watch Dan Rather tonight
and see if he says:
"If this photo is a fake, I want to break that story"!
LOL!
Dan Rather reporting from an undisclosed Toys-R-Us location says that the sources for the picture are verified.
Yall are the best. BlackRain congrats!!
I am off to check on my ancient cabbage patch dolls that I went into combat to get years ago.
Help me, I can't breathe! Hahahahaha!
It is odd, I saw this pic when he came up and had a vague feeling that it didn't look real but dismissed it. I think it was the kneepads and the orange face. I kept thinking of Monica and Al Gore. Then I come back and find this priceless thread.
Stop making me laugh my dog is starting to back away!
I think the laws of Islam forbid them from looking at Betty.
He also gave his assurances that the picture in question came from an "un-impeachable source", and called on President Bush to answer the damning allegations the photo brings to light.
Way to go, Dashing Dasher! HELP IS ON THE WAY!
that shows class.
thanks for your source
Ha!
Yeah I just informed my local station as well I sent them to Drudge and FR oh well!!
May all their hostages be plastic....
I'm right and biased so I guess I'm me but not dead cause dead is dead
If they like stiff, expressionless figures we could always offer them Owl Bore.
http://shopping.msn.com/eshopframe.aspx?merchId=2833&catId=1144&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.etoys.com%2faffiliate.html%3fredirect%3d%2fgenProduct.html%2fPID%2f2333799%2fctid%2f17%26affiliate%3dalic
click to enlarge
or
http://shopping.msn.com/eshopframe.aspx?merchId=2833&catId=1144&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.etoys.com%2faffiliate.html%3fredirect%3d%2fgenProduct.html%2fPID%2f1315159%2fctid%2f17%26affiliate%3dalic
pretty awful similar, looking at it from my perspective, as a portrait artist
so the MSM caught up? I was telling my wife today the MSM is no longer usefull and they don't even know it, the problem is they wont go away quietly.
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