Posted on 05/23/2005 7:22:27 PM PDT by zahal724
Iraq's al-Qaida frontman Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed his group executed an American pilot, but personal ID posted on the Internet indicates the terrorists may have mistaken a frequent-flier card for a flying license, according to an intelligence analyst.
The statement on the jihadi site, posted along with photos of the personal documents, showed the purported victim as Neenus Y. Khoshaba, a U.S. national born in 1948, said Laura Mansfield of the Northeast Intelligence Network.
The terrorists' statement said: "Your brothers in al-Qaida in the Land of Two Rivers got their hands on a U.S. pilot who turned out to have bombarded several mosques and the Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad during the invasion of Iraq, as well as several civilian homes."
The identity cards shown were an Illinois driver's license, a health insurance card, a frequent-guest card for a hotel chain and a membership card for the Executive Club of British Airways, a frequent-flier program.
"Apparently the jihadis interpreted the frequent-flier card and the British Airways Club card as evidence that the hostage was a pilot," said Mansfield.
In addition, the U.S. military has denied it is missing any of its servicemen.
Mansfield said a quick Web search in both English and Arabic shows Khoshaba was an Iraqi who immigrated to the U.S. then returned to Iraq in 2003 to help rebuild the country.
The Baghdad Bazaar website describes Khoshaba's company as "active in Wood Household Furniture, Upholstered; Hardwood Veneer And Plywood."
A high-ranking official with Iraq's Assyrian Democratic party told Agence France-Presse that Khoshaba is a U.S.-Iraqi businessman from an Assyrian family who was kidnapped Wednesday.
"I can't confirm his death but I can identify the hostage," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said Khoshaba was based in Chicago and moved back to Iraq in 2003.
"He was apparently tricked by a group of people posing as representatives from the oil ministry, who told him that they were looking for someone with a dual nationality and had business opportunities to offer him," the official said. "There had been no word from him since."
A translation of the Internet posting by Zarqawi's group says:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the reward for the pious; no aggression except on the transgressors; and prayers and greetings to the iman of the mujahideen, our prophet Mohamed; and to his family and his companions. Your brothers in al-Qaida in the Land of Two Rivers got their hands on a U.S. pilot who turned out to have bombarded several mosques and the Sheraton hotel in Baghdad during the invasion of Iraq, as well as several civilian homes.
After concluding the investigation of this unbeliever, the execution of the command of Allah took place, Glory be to Him. Allah triumphs in all, but most people are not aware.
This is but one of many arrows in our quiver to use against all who injure the Muslims and we will show them to the extent of our power and ability how they displease Allah.
And your brothers in the al-Qaida Network in Mesopotamia will continue in their fight against the unbelievers and the apostates until the word of God rules over all the countries and their people.
Allah is the greatest! Allah is the greatest! Honor be to Allah and to his messenger and to the mujahideen.
Murderous AND stupid.
Deadly combination.
Even though, on the surface, I find myself supporting the ordinary Iraqi citizen - the one with the "blue finger" that risked his life to vote. I am impressed that still, there are those who will be Iraqi police & military, that will risk their life for their country.
But the fact that Zarqawi hasn't been caught - tells me that an awful lot of Iraqis are still enabling the terrorists.
The only thing that will have an impact on something this deep-rooted is aggressive flushing out tactics like we've done a few times in Fallujah & elsewhere. If we had the backing of the rest of the world, we could really give these guys a run.
These "radical Islamists" - an oxymoron - are like an insidious ebola type virus that won't stop until it kills you.
Yes, and I don't look at the 'pretty' one 1st. That's what the politically correct crowd does. (well, you know me, not PC by anyones standards)
Any Muslim cleric can make the determination as to which version is applicable for 'today'.
I'm not PC either. I just try to be optimistic that there must be hope for this segment. Otherwise, they would have been all rounded up like in WW2, right?
AND, our MIL puts themselves in harms way to preserver their mosques...so I hope the radical version was the hijacked version.
a 57 yr old fighter pilot? does such an aged active duty pilot even exist?
Being optimistic and hoping that the 'nonsense will stop' is not, in my view anywhere near a smart thing to do.
Please, look back at the past few years and tell me what gives you cause for hope with the Muslins. Has the situation improved or gotten worse?
I know it wasn't their decision. They are following orders. Just like the orders they follow on females searching females and the respect they need to show for the Quran. I'm just confident this is being done for a reason.
They don't care if he's a pilot, a butcher or an attorney. He's American.
pong
and #47?
I'm here second generation from a surpressed people. My family worked land owned by a Don in Italy.
People that live under a dictator don't want to live like that and strive for a better life.
I see the nationals in the Middle East in the same situation.
Do you think people like to live a lifestyle where they watch family and friends die on the steps of a hospital because they don't have the money to put in the box to get treatment?
no
Do you think people like to live a lifestyle where their daughters our taken, buried in the dirt up to their chest and stoned to death?
no
I can't believe people want that life.
When a mosque here in the states is chosen, that is when the visiting Imaans come to convert. The mosques aren't preaching go to jihad before that Imaan arrives.
So a process of hate has to be introduced.
It isn't sad. “Sad” doesn't do this justice. Its 1st degree murder, kidnapping and terrorism committed by a bunch of illiterate brain washed stooges for allah.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) certainly hasn't shown me that they wish to convert to a peace loving religion. When was their last apology or have they ever made one?
I see them as being assertive and demanding, wanting us to do things 'their way' or get out their of the way and they'll do it for us.
I think you should open your eyes all the way regarding the Islamic intentions in America. They introduced hate to me on 9/11 and they haven't done a damn thing to calm it down!
I think CAIR is a terror group too.
Stupid freakin' morons.
Yes B4Ranch, I'm familiar with all the articles.
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