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.
Oh, wouldn't it have been funny if HE had fallen for this?
SMART kid! My, my. We know the media reads FR and I hope they are quite red faced that at least two kids knew right away the picture was a fake. LOL
Perhaps the same persons who work for Dan Rather checked out this story.......
Another hilarious ping for you.
Remember this?
Bert is involved, somehow.
I've always suspected that Bert is an Islamic militant.
My 8 yr old is laughing his head off. =)
Yep, that's about the level of my humor :)
Which network will have the exclusive interview with John Adam's family tonight?
Fox News breaking news
Jack Bauer, CTU renegade uber counterterrorism agent, has been appointed by the President to lead a special ops rescue of G.I. Joe.
Jack is taking time out from his mission to save the US from nuclear meltdown because he's the only one in the world who can save GI Joe now.
The White House would not disclose any further details about the rescue operations or the threat of nuclear meltdown.
We can only hope some family member doesn't get in the way of the resuce operations.
DON'T MISS BRIT'S GRAPEVINE, HE'LL BE COVERING THIS!!!
Awwwwwwwwwww Brit didn't have the pic of the toy in the package............nuts.
It was good but would have been great if he'd have had the pick of the toy in the package.........COME ON FNC, YOU'RE SLACKING.
That was just too funny. I have to go to the ladies room now. LOL!
interesting, the latest AP report says this toy soldier was also shipped to US bases in Kuwait
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=8&u=/ap/20050201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_soldier
"An American toy manufacturer said the figure in the photo resembled one of its military action figures, originally produced for sale at U.S. bases in Kuwait."
given it is also noted that the Arabic words are spelled wrong, hmmm, could some bored soldiers if not some Americans somewhere have perpetrated this hoax?
"The Arabic text, however, contained several misspellings and repetitions."
Power to 'em, I say!
Embarass the jihadis and the Mainstream Media in one swoop, beauty eh?
They're just not as fast as we are, OXEN, but then, who is.
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