US Soldier captured by Iraqi terrorist scum

[Morgeruat]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050201/D87VU1582.html

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 U.S. military said it was investigating, but the claim's authenticity could not be immediately confirmed. The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of what that statement said was an American soldier, wearing desert fatigues and seated on a concrete floor with his hands tied behind his back. The figure in the photo appeared stiff and expressionless, and the photo's authenticity could not be confirmed. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and behind him on the wall is 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." (AP) This image of what appears to be a captured US soldier was posted on an Iraqi militant website,... Full Image 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 posting did not show any ID card for the alleged captive and no organization's name was written on the black banner, as have appeared in some past claims of kidnappings. The man's uniform had no U.S. insignia or names visible. The Mujahedeen Brigades have claimed responsibility for two kidnappings in the past - the abduction in April of three Japanese who were released and that of a Brazilian engineer who went missing after an ambush that the Brigades claimed to have carried out along with the Ansar al-Sunnah Army. 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.

Dont lose heart though, http://drudgereport.com/

It appears the real soldier captured was none other than GI Joe. Oh those Wacky Iraqi's.

[ 02-01-2005, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[johnny]

LOL I bet the one holding the rifle is Barbie.

[Davros]

Great thread title.

Yup that was sarcasm.

Trifle xenephobic and melodramatic for the actual content don't you think? Almost how Faux News would have put it.

[ 02-01-2005, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: Davros ]

[Ziroc]

HAHAHA! god, what freaks. The dirt on the knees is a nice touch though. I can see them arguing about the lighting and someone holding that little gun..

FREAKS.

[Dace De'Briago]

I was about to say that the story seemed a little suspicious for the following reasons (didn't check the link or the pic and wasn't planning on doing it before posting):

1) Inconsistencies in the report between the captured US personnel being a soldier or a marine
2) The US military spokesman being a Sergeant. This is a very low rank for a spokesman, I was expecting an officer of at least the rank of Captain (only these ranks and above have media training and authority to release press statements)
3) The US uniform clearly displays the US flag on the (right?) arm, strange that this was missing
4) As was the absence of the name tag which is always sewn into the breast pocket

One thing I do object to about this thread is the title.

Firstly, there is no proof that the kidnappers are Iraqi. It is common knowledge that a number of foreign militants are operating in Iraq, the phrase "Iraqi terrorist scum" clearly implicates Iraqi extremists.

Secondly, the word 'terrorist' is rapidly becoming a all-enclosing phrase that describes any form of extremist. Why not use the phrase 'freedom fighter' or 'religious nutcases' (note, I would object to the second description if you had any strong religious sentiments because it would imply that they are nutcases for a suggested belief in Islamic principles).

My final objection is to the 'terrorist scum' declaration. I am sure that not all terrorists are 'scum'. If a terrorist is someone that fights against the state to break away from established government, then the US is a terrorist state and the founding fathers are a group of terrorist scum.

Final thing, for a freedom fighter enemy SOLDIERS are a legitimate target. At least they werent responsible for killing thousands of innocents with indiscriminate missile bombardments during the 'war'.

WOMD didn't exist? What a f**king shock. You know, I never saw that twist coming.

That was sarcasm.

[The Hierophant]

Um, seems quite ingenious to me. Possible hostage release for minimal risk = a clever ploy.

Pity for them their special effects skills were so crap. And the fact that they didn't count on a simple US soldiery roll-call enabling US forces to effectively call their bluff.

So yeah, clever, but simultaneously stupid...

[Violet]

Originally posted by The Hierophant: Um, seems quite ingenious to me. Possible hostage release for minimal risk = a clever ploy. Pity for them their special effects skills were so crap. And the fact that they didn't count on a simple US soldiery roll-call enabling US forces to effectively call their bluff. So yeah, clever, but simultaneously stupid...

My sentiments exactly. Not to mention that I thought it was so stupid that it made the whole thing kind of funny.
It bothers me to see people getting their undies tangled over the thread's title and content. Our soldier's are over there dying to protect the freedom of speech you know. I have a friend deployed in Baghdad right now and I'd bet anything that seeing the links and stories above would make him chuckle too.

[Davros]

That's fine Violet, but I won't shrink from calling a spade a spade, a terrorist a terrorist, and racist xenophobia racist xenophobia. The thread title showed as nuch class as your average FOX News broadcast, so why not say so.

Your welcome to your point of view though.

[Morgeruat]

Secondly, the word 'terrorist' is rapidly becoming a all-enclosing phrase that describes any form of extremist. Why not use the phrase 'freedom fighter' or 'religious nutcases' (note, I would object to the second description if you had any strong religious sentiments because it would imply that they are nutcases for a suggested belief in Islamic principles).

No, Terrorist is a term that describes "Terrorism refers to the use of violence for the purpose of achieving a political goal" Religious nutcases, well I wouldn't want to violate the moratorium with my title And yes I know most of the actual "terrorists" in Iraq are foreign nationals hoping to be able to take a portion of the spoils (land and power in Iraq), don't believe me? those are the rules Islam has operated under for 1400 years, and they won't change now just because they're largely fighting coreligionists in this instance. They're not all looking to "liberate" or get their 72 virgins.

Terrorists who blow themselves up, or kidnap civilians, or do any of the other hundreds of despicable acts these bastards do deserve the title scum, as do any who support their acts, or would on any level defend them.

btw thanks for reminding me why I avoid this forum. [img]graemlins/flickoff.gif[/img]

[ 02-02-2005, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[John D Harris]

[quote]Originally posted by Morgeruat:

btw thanks for reminding me why I avoid this forum. [img]graemlins/flickoff.gif[/img]

Morg, don't let'em get you down, "If'n you're soring with Eagles, you can't be worried about the Gobblers on the ground that make only short bursts into the air."

[ 02-02-2005, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]