Iraqi Terrorists Take G.I. Joe Hostage

You think I'm joking. But I'm not.

[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....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...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..."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.

If you needed more proof that either (1) many of the insurgents are just kidnappers looking for a ransom or (2) desperate in light of the success of the Iraqi elections, here you have it. It is also proof of the effectiveness of the internet in getting out information and exposing hoaxes. Prior to this, it may have taken days for everyone involved to get the news and get out an explanation. But these days, it just takes a few minutes and an internet browser.