Terrorists Claim To Hold Captured US Soldier (Wizbang)

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 terrorists know that the US will not be complying with their demands.

Update: If you think that there's something odd about the picture you're not alone. My bullshit meter went off immediately. The size of the head looks all wrong, like the picture was created in Photoshop. In this case I hope I'm NOT wrong.

There was a John Adam Keeney who served in Baghdad, but he presumably is not in Iraq any more..

Update 2: At Fark.com, user Nth Degree wonders if the GI Joe: Air Force Special Ops doll is what is shown in the picture. Here's a eBay auction for the action figure with close-up shots, and this picture from Nth Degree:

The gun sure looks similar, and notice that the action figure comes with knee pads (lower right of the box) and the picture shows a soldier wearing knee pads...

I think that the AP might have got hoodwinked...

Update 3: As Michele notes in the comments, and other via e-mail, AP was p0wned - Militaryphotos.net has tracked down each piece of clothing...

End note - It appears to be a Cody Special Ops figure rather than a GI Joe model...

Comments (55)

Well I'm glad to know I'm n... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Drew | February 1, 2005 2:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Drew:

Well I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thought that picture looked weird. I'm guessing this is going to turn out to be BS propaganda.

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:23

Kevin,Check out the ... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Rusty Shackleford | February 1, 2005 2:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rusty Shackleford:

Kevin,
Check out the gun. I've seen a lot of hostage videos. In EVERY single one the mujahad-terrorists ALWAYS pack an AK-47.

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:26

I'm thinkin', I know the ge... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by OneDrummer | February 1, 2005 2:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

OneDrummer:

I'm thinkin', I know the gear is bulky, but this guy would've been drummed out for havin' a shrunken head. This can't be a real pic...

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:28

That's a GI Joe doll.... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by michele | February 1, 2005 2:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

michele:

That's a GI Joe doll.

http://www.monkeydepot.com/Merchant/bd0450.JPG

Look at the vest.

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:32

<a href="http://www.conserv... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Drew | February 1, 2005 2:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

http://www.conservativefriends.com/viewtopic.php?p=5331#5331

If you look at the magnified version, you can clearly see manipulation around the mouth region.

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:37

that is a gijoe action figu... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by packetninja | February 1, 2005 2:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

packetninja:

that is a gijoe action figure...

weird...they are quite stupid eh?

They're not the only stupid... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by michele | February 1, 2005 2:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

They're not the only stupid ones. What about the 500 news sites going with this story?

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:41

Brilliant, Michelle! Expla... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by King of Fools | February 1, 2005 2:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

King of Fools:

Brilliant, Michelle! Explains why there isn't a terrorist in the picture, like there usually is.

The pants and boots match, as does the face and the vest. Don't see the kneepads in the package, but they could be the things on the bottom right.

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:47

that goes without saying mi... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by packetninja | February 1, 2005 2:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

that goes without saying michele...maybe it is a blogger trying to show the MSM to cool it's horses and don't be a rather (as in dan) lol :)

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:48

Go here to see the figure</... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Don | February 1, 2005 2:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Don:

Go here to see the figure

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37049

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:52

I almost made my own versio... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by King of Fools | February 1, 2005 2:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

I almost made my own version (My Goodness, they got Barbie Too!), but I don't want to make light of the whole hostage thing.

Besides...my Princess doesn't have any Barbie guns. Only hairbrushes and shoes. Lots of shoes.

If they DO behead him, at l... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Dwayne "the canoe guy" | February 1, 2005 2:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Dwayne "the canoe guy":

If they DO behead him, at least it will be easy to re-attach it.

But now we know who the muslims are really working for.......COBRA!!!!!

Posted on February 1, 2005 14:59

First chance I got to see t... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by lawhawk | February 1, 2005 3:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

lawhawk:

First chance I got to see this image, and I've got to concur that something looks fishy. The proportions aren't quite right, and although there might be some lens distortion in effect, the flesh tones on the face also look off.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:01

It certainly does look like... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Pigilito | February 1, 2005 3:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Pigilito:

It certainly does look like a photoshopped head. The weapon and vest are also toy like. But the uniform looks as if it drapes correctly, and the boots look fairly real.

I hope to hell this is a fake.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:02

AP and Reuters to edit head... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by kermit duncan | February 1, 2005 3:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

kermit duncan:

AP and Reuters to edit headline: "Gigantic Terrorists Threaten to Behead..."

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:04

Where the fuck is a neutron... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Neal | February 1, 2005 3:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Neal:

Where the fuck is a neutron bomb when you need one? Kill each and every one of those jihaddicksuckers--twice!

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:10

I understand that the terro... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by OB SNOOKS | February 1, 2005 3:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

OB SNOOKS:

I understand that the terrorists have caputured Col. URKO from the Planet of the Apes and will post his photo shortly.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:17

Clinton blew it when he pas... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by Tom | February 1, 2005 3:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Tom:

Clinton blew it when he passed up that chance to capture Destro..

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:18

More telling for me (and wh... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by Andrew | February 1, 2005 3:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Andrew:

More telling for me (and what got me thinking about it) is that the M-16 is (a) flat against the wall, (b) not being held by its trigger/grip and (c) looks like it is held up to the wall by scotch tape.

I would kill them for just ... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by ridgerunner | February 1, 2005 3:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

ridgerunner:

I would kill them for just holding the doll hostage.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:19

Apparently, Al-Zarqawi's ga... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by Laurence Simon | February 1, 2005 3:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Laurence Simon:

Apparently, Al-Zarqawi's gang has found a way to defend against the once-unstoppable Kung Fu Grip.

'Thomas said he had no info... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by Tom | February 1, 2005 3:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

'Thomas said he had no information on the claim but "we are currently looking into it."'

That can only mean one thing: Snake Eyes is on the case.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:24

Doesn't seem like MSM has f... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by mesablue | February 1, 2005 3:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

mesablue:

Doesn't seem like MSM has figured this out yet, it's still being pushed out.

On the other hand, what if it was real terrorists who captured the GI Joe doll?

The horror.

Great now I have this song ... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by Paul | February 1, 2005 3:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Paul:

Great now I have this song running thru my head:

"All your Barbie are belong to us."

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:26

mesablue: The real fun wil... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Tom | February 1, 2005 3:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

mesablue: The real fun will be to see how they sidestep admitting they got owned. Will we see weeks of denials, followed by snide comments that "the photos were never proven to be fakes", and finally a hand-waving investigation that assigns no blame?

"The photos may be fake, but they're accurate!"

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:31

The gun looks a great deal ... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by Phil Smith | February 1, 2005 3:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Phil Smith:

The gun looks a great deal like one of my son's 'airsoft' plastic bb rifles. Note the black clip inserted into what appears to be clear plastic.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:40

Forget the doll, the scale ... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Rick13 | February 1, 2005 3:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rick13:

Forget the doll, the scale of the plaster and cracks in the wall are all wrong. Nice try Dumbass's! God forbid they get hold of Barbie or Skipper!

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:42

Tom:Too funny, tha... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by mesablue | February 1, 2005 3:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Too funny, that is exactly what I was thinking. But what to call it? JoeGate is too tame.

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:47

Simon - you owe me a new FP... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by OneDrummer | February 1, 2005 3:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Simon - you owe me a new FP2001 monitor dude!

Posted on February 1, 2005 15:57

Hey, isn't Optimus Prime in... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by Andrew | February 1, 2005 4:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hey, isn't Optimus Prime in the army these days? He'll know what to do.

Posted on February 1, 2005 16:03

The AP just got an atomic w... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Steve L. | February 1, 2005 4:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Steve L.:

The AP just got an atomic wedgie from the terrorists. I can only imagine the terrorists are laughing their asses off right now at how stupid journalists are.

Posted on February 1, 2005 16:08

Steve L.: I doubt this was... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by Tom | February 1, 2005 4:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Steve L.: I doubt this was done by terrorists, or by "Chimp Bush and the RepubliKKKans" as was alledged on Fark. Some teenage weenie just posted this on a pro-terrorist website as a lark for he and his friends, probably never expecting it would get serious inspection. Such websites are probably rife with posturing punks that are in no way seriously involved in anything, just like any 'hacker' website or loony left 'revolutionary' site.

Posted on February 1, 2005 16:17

In response, we have anothe... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by The Man | February 1, 2005 4:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

The Man:

In response, we have another offer for the terrorists. Here is a picture of an insurgent leader we captured in Iraq. If Abu Musab al-Zarqawi does not surrender to American troops within 72 hours, we will behead her. The clock is ticking. God willing, we will spill her blood if we do not get what we want.

Click Here to read more.

Terrorists Claim To Hold Captured US Soldier

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Comments (55)