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.
That was exactly what I thought when I saw the pic on Drudge a few minutes ago and you seem to have confirmed it.
Bravo!
Looks like they painted the face a different color too.
That was exactly what I thought when I saw the pic on Drudge a few minutes ago and you seem to have confirmed it.
Bravo!
Black Rain...way to go.
Look at the vest and the gun...
Excellent catch. In fact the doll has a 20 round clip, while all the guys in the field I've seen have the 30 rd banana clip.
I stand corrected. Way to go, Dog! And Peach as well :-)
OH MY GAWDDDDDDDD!! The doll and pic look identical!!! Look at the dolls frown and the pics...IDENTICAL!! Eureka!... I agree this is a BUCKHEAD moment indeed!!
You coulda both been contendahs..... now BlackRain will get all the credit..... ;^)
Another interesting thing I've noticed is that the doll's boots are a bit too dark, especially the soles. Almost all photos I've seen of soldiers in Iraq have shown very light colored boots due to the amount of sand and such that clings to them.
Wow! I hope this truly is a fake.
Definately a doll in front of a cinderblock. Good eye !! Check out the (water ?) stain on the concrete ground surface too. Pretty obvious that it is a close up shot, way out of scale scale.
Send in this guy to get him!
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mo/teamamerica250.jpg
I KNEW it. My first thought was that these guys just learned how to use Photoshop. The face looked too weird and almost disproportional to the body.
That is fine with me...:-)
I just sent this thread to FNC and would suggest others do the same with a little explanation.
Hannity@foxnews.com
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