G.I. Joe Error

Claim:   Iraqi militant web site displays image of action figure toy identified as a captured American soldier.

Status:   True.

Origins:   On 1 February 2005, the Associated Press reported that Iraqi militants had claimed in a statement posted on a web site that they had taken an American soldier hostage and were threatening to behead him in 72 hours if the U.S. did not agree to release Iraqi prisoners:

Perhaps there was good reason why the authenticity of the photo could not be confirmed. The image that accompanied the article was captioned thusly:

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the "captured American" image and a picture of a "Special Ops" action figure named Cody manufactured by Dragon Models USA. Note the similarities in the faces, uniforms, and weapons displayed in the two photographs:

The SITE Institute web site reported that by 2 February 2005 a confession and apology for the hoax written by an Iraqi using the nickname "al-Iraqi4" was circulated on Jihadist message boards:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate,

Soldier John Adam is a toy.

I am a 20-year old Iraqi young man. I am unarmed, independent and do not belong to any party or group. I apologize to all the parties and everyone, for I meant nothing by that.

The picture was a scheme that I made up with a toy that I bought with $5.

Today I am announcing that this news was made up, and that the picture was of a toy that I worked on with the help of some children.

I cannot provide any information about me because, as I mentioned earlier, I am unarmed, and any information about me might jeopardize my life and the lives of my family.

My apologies to everyone.

Last updated:   4 February 2005

  Sources:

    Morin, Thomas.   "Alleged Kidnapping of Soldier May Be a Hoax."

    Los Angeles Times.   2 February 2005   (p. A6).

    Associated Press.   "Web Site Claims GI Captured in Iraq."

    1 February 2005.