Islamic Web site claims U.S. soldier captured, threat to behead him unless Iraqis are

[USMCRET6391]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

9:50 a.m. February 1, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq – 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.

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 claim, carried on the Web site ansarnet.ws, could not be verified.

[SR-25]

CNN) -- A photograph posted on an Islamist Web site appears to be that of an action figure and not a U.S. soldier being held hostage.

Liam Cusack, the marketing coordinator for Dragon Models USA, said the figure pictured on the Web site is believed to be "Special Ops Cody," a military action figure the company manufactured in late 2003.

"It pretty much looks exactly like the same person," he said.

Cusack said he was contacted Tuesday morning by one of his retailers, who informed him that the alleged hostage appeared to be one of the company's action figures.

"I thought it was a joke at first," he said.

But after reading a report on a news Web site about a U.S. soldier allegedly being captured, "I looked at it and said, 'It does look like one of our action figures.'"

"Cody" is an action figure the company made for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, which supplies U.S. military bases worldwide with various items. The doll was meant to look like a U.S. soldier who might be serving in Iraq, Cusack said.

On the Islamist Web site, a group calling itself the Al Mujahedeen Brigade, posted a photograph of a man it claimed was a captured U.S. soldier named John Adam, and it threatened to behead him if Iraqi prisoners are not released by U.S. forces.

Staff Sgt. Nick Minecci of the U.S. military's press office in Baghdad told The Associated Press that "no units have reported anyone missing."

The photograph showed the figure against a black flag with white lettering reading, "God is great, there is no god but Allah." A U.S. military assault rifle was pointed at its head. It appears that "rifle" was part of the plastic weaponry that came with the action figure.

The photograph immediately raised questions.

CNN military analyst James Marks, a retired Army general, questioned its authenticity.

He told CNN in a phone interview that the flak jacket in the picture had a kind of trim along the edges that he'd never seen before, and that the open-legged pants, as opposed to gathered hems, struck him as odd.

He also questioned what appeared to be camouflage paint on the face.

"We have not used camo paint with conventional forces serving in Iraq," Marks said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/01/iraq.hostage/

[SR-25]

If you cant tell thats a toy, you have serious issues.

[rabbid37]

This is just my personal oppinion---> I think that every time the insurgents capture someone and threaten to behead them we send more troops in. Eventually...I think that they might consider stopping that!

Damn not Special Ops Cody!!! Those Iraqi militants better head for the hills because Duke and his buddies are gonna come in looking for some heads to krak!! GO JOE!!!

[RFleischman]

stupid damn terrorist!

[RFleischman]

stupid damn terrorist! That M4 doesnt' even have a mag in it!

[RFleischman]

stupid damn terrorist! That M4 doesn't even have a mag in it!

[RFleischman]

ooops sorry for the double post!

[Brad]

Captive U.S. soldier appears fake



BAGHDAD (AP) — A Web site posted a photograph of what it said was a kidnapped U.S. soldier, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity, and the U.S. military said no soldiers were missing.
An American toy manufacturer said the figure in the photo resembled one of its military action figures, originally produced for sale at U.S. bases in Kuwait.
The statement about the abduction appeared on a Web site on which militants' statements are often posted and was in the name of a group that has taken responsibility for previous kidnappings, the Mujahedeen Brigades.

The Arabic text, however, contained several misspellings and repetitions.
Staff Sgt. Nick Minecci, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said "no units have reported anyone missing."
The photo showed a figure dressed in desert fatigues, wearing a vest and knee pads, and with a gun pointed to his head. All the items are similar to those that come in a box with the action figure, named "Cody."
The figure in the photo has its arms behind its body, as if tied, and is propped against a concrete surface. Hanging on the wall is a black piece of cloth with the Islamic profession of faith written on it in white letters.
The figure appeared stiff and expressionless. The statement said he was named "John Adam."
Liam Cusack of the toy manufacturer Dragon Models USA Inc. said the image bore a striking resemblance to the black version of its Cody figure.
"It is our doll. ... To me, it looks definitely like it is," Mr. Cusack said. "Everything the guy is wearing is exactly what comes with our figure. If you look at the two pictures side by side, it'd be a huge coincidence."
The company, based in City of Industry, Calif., produced 4,000 of the figures in 2003 for the U.S. military for sale in its Kuwait bases. It was never sold in the United States but is traded online among collectors, sometimes to use in highly realistic dioramas, he said.
The only American soldier known to have been taken hostage is Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, who was shown in a video in April being held by militants. A later video purported to show his slaying, but it could not be confirmed, and the military still lists him as missing.

[USMCRET6391]

When I posted the orginal article there was no picture with it....if there had been one I would have posted it in the fouled anchor as a joke

[0311Marine]

They took it out of the box, now its not in mint condition, THOSE BASTARDS MUST PAY !!!!