Posted on 02/01/2005 1:13:54 PM PST by NYer
^URGENT<
^U.S. military: No soldier missing in Iraq< ^Eds: LEADS throughout to RECAST with doubts over photo's authenticity; UPDATES with details of similarities between image and action figure, quotes from official from Dragon toys. Mispellings and repetitions in the Arabic text. ADD photo<
^AP Photo NY118<
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ A Web site posted a photograph of what it claimed was a kidnapped U.S. soldier, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity and the U.S. military said no soldiers were missing.
A toy manufacturer said the figure in the photo resembled one of its military action figures, originally produced for sale at U.S. bases in Kuwamt>? *42 9:0:2627: 08820922 77 0 +21 94te often used for posting statements from militants, some of which have proven authentic in the past, and was in the name of a group that has claimed previous kidnappings, the Mujahedeen Brigades.
The Arabic text, however, contained several mispellings and repetitions. Staff Sgt. Nick Minecci of the U.S. military's press office in Baghdad said ``no units have reported anyone missing.''
The photo in the posting showed a figure dressed in desert camouflage fatigues, wearing a vest and knee pads and with a gun pointed to its head. All the items are similar to ones that come in a box with the action figure, named ``Cody.'' The figure in the photo appeared stiff and expressionless, and the statement said he was named ``John Adam.''
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 the African-American version of its ``Cody'' action figure. ``It is our doll ... to me it definitely looks like it is,'' Cusack told The Associated Press. ``Everything the guy is wearing is exactly what comes with our figure.''
He said the figures were ordered by the U.S. military in Kuwait for sale in their bases, ``so they would have been in region.''
AP-ES-02-01-05 1603EST
Yep, beat me to it. My AP Wire software sounded the alarm 20 minutes ago.
Make a fool out of them? What about the media that JUMPED all over this? Now they have to retrack the story without looking like idiots (they are though)...hahaha
HAHAHA!
Battle of Midway.
Certainly some of their retired officers do.
"AFP is short of brains."
Maybe they can buy them and send them to their kids back home or something like that. I don't know.
No dolls for Oil!!!!
CNN just had a snippet on about 30 minutes ago where Jesse Jackson has asked that the soldier be released.
Is this the same thing? Was Jesse duped?
LOL!!! Took them long enough.
If you get in trouble, just wave your arms.
A gift for a soldier to send home to his kids, maybe? I used to do some business with a Canadian Forces base store and whenever there was a big peacekeeping deployment they'd have a run on teddy bears in Canadian Forces uniforms.
Terrorists are holding GI Joe hostage. Will Barbie be next?
Yeah, this is right up there with Al Qeada's videotaped "threat" right before our elections. I'm waiting for Osama to show up on "Crank Yankers", except I think they might be too busy "yanking" something else.
Did Jesse volunteer to go there and negotiate for the release of that captive doll?? LOL
Unless it's the missing marine again!!!! The one who went AWOL from Iraq and again from California.
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