The AP reports that an American G.I. has allegedly been captured by "insurgents" — which means terrorists — who threaten to behead him in 72 hours if all Iraqi prisoners aren’t released.
UPDATE: But some websites now conclude the photo shows….an action doll figure.. A hoax(?).. Read this before you read the original post below. Then this. MUST READING!!!!
We will give you our original post below here anyway (the points are still valid if someone is seized):
Clearly (NOT so clearly now…JG):
- This is a demand that they know can’t be met.
- This is the second shoe dropping after the first shoe dropped — Iraqis defiantly going to the polls to vote and endorsing democracy despite death threats from terrorist forces and even violence on election day. This is their ANSWER.
- If it’s confirmed that they have an American G.I. it’s unlikely this will have a happy ending. Brace yourselves.
But this is the kind of act that some analysts predicted would come soon on the heels of the election which not only brought praise for the way in which democracy was ushered in, but a vow from Al Qaeda that it would conduct a holy war in Iraq.
It looks like that second war may have been formally launched today:
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 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.
TMV thanks Backcountry Conservative for the tip.
UPDATE: THIS JUST IN! Just look at this. It’s said to be ANOTHER IMAGE of another captured military hostage…
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.