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
Yes Je$$e was duped by a black soldier doll.
All your action figures are belong to us!!!
Wow, less than $7 each. That was decades ago! When they were made in America.
It almost makes one wonder of that was our intent.
OMG! I just noticed that Tourist Guy changed race.
LOL!!! I'm still cracking up...I looked at that pic 5 or 6 times on reloads and just now noticed it.
Now they probably cost $90 and are 10" smaller. I remember the sailor GI Joe, I use to have that one. This was before the "kung fu grip" and his hands where always in a shooting position.
Not only that, but the name of the doll closely resembles the name of a US President.
There are allegedly Arabic mis-spellings in the photo indicating that the perpetrator might be a wise-ass American hoaxter. But AP and NPR fell for it.
When I first heard that an American soldier was captured and would be beheaded if we did not release captured Iraqis, I was heartbroken and prayed my heart out. Then I learn, through FreeRepublic, that the soldier was a "doll". Thank God for FreeRepublic and as far as the MSM is concerned, my contempt is complete!
Is Dan Rather working for the jihadists nowadays?
All your action figures are belong to us.
This is so laughable, it's almost hard to believe these idiots have outsmarted our boys and been a pain in our ass for over a year.
It HAD to be done!
baghdad zog! LOL!
Barbie will be raped by French Algerian gangs in Paris and called an infidel slut and whore!
That was actually Madonna on her last European tour!
The media had high HOPES it was real. They have been waiting for this for quite some time.Very high hopes. And they're still hoping that a real soldier will yet be kidnapped. The fact that it hasn't happened yet must be torture for them.
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