Iraqi Militants Kill U.S. Soldier Held Hostage Since April

[fryguy]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=3&u=/ap/20040628/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_soldier_killed

Al-Jazeera television said Tuesday that Iraqi militants killed an American soldier they have held hostage since early April because the U.S. government did not change its policy in Iraq.

On Edit: CNN repeating and working to confirm....

[Longhorn]

1. CBS has it on the Evening News, too. n/t

Pvt. Matt Maupin.

[jjmalonejr]

2. I just saw a Pentagon official dispute this.

Apparently, they can "neither confirm nor deny"

[0007]

5. It appears we don't know much but pay a hell of a lot for nothing

[benburch]

3. Damn.

We had no business being there. None. And we should leave NOW.

However, killing a POW is nothing I can support in any way.

It was a war crime when WE did it at Abu Ghraib, and it is a war crime when Iraqi freedom fighters do it.

We need an international war crimes tribunal to investigate, prosecute, and punish both sides in this useless, filthy war.

[Shakespeare]

4. Damn. The video of that terrified kid broke my heart.

I've never seen someone's eyes look like his did from sheer terror--his pupils totally dilated, making his eyes look black. And he was just a kid, like so many others we've lost over there.

Goddammit.

:cry:

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. I'm not defending this act of murder

However, there were some young "kids" that didn't look too terrified, grooving to metal rock as they did a little of their own killing over there, as shown in F-911. Karma?

[Shakespeare]

8. to paraphrase Shakespeare, each man's karma's his own.

No, I don't think it's karma. I think it's FUBAR. The soldiers grooving on destruction will have their own karma to deal with--my heart goes out to this kid.

[Just Me]

7. Thank, "bring it on",...."don't give a damn",...CIC,...BUSH!!!

Bush has instigated his f*cked up "vision".

He is entirely responsible.

He incited and divided.

His swagger is a dagger!!!

GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

[jdj]

9. Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, this is the april status change release

DoD Announces Soldier's Captured Status

          The Department of Defense announced today a change in the status of a soldier serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom from duty status - whereabouts unknown to captured.
          Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, was declared captured on April 16. 
          On April 9, Maupin and Sgt. Elmer C. Krause, 40, of Greensboro, N.C., were categorized as duty status - whereabouts unknown when individuals using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire attacked their convoy.  Both soldiers were assigned to the Army Reserve’s 724th Transportation Company, from Bartonville, Ill.
          Krause’s status remains unchanged because his whereabouts remain unknown.  Efforts continue to obtain the successful and safe return of both individuals.
          Questions regarding theater operations can be directed to CENTCOM at [phone].  Change-in-status questions can be directed to Shari Lawrence, deputy public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Va., at [phone].
          For the public affairs officer assisting Maupin’s family contact Maj. Willie Harris, 88th Regional Readiness Command, [phone].


Edit: Sgt. Elmer G. Krause's remains were found shortly after this release.

[fryguy]

10. how many more are "whereabouts unknown to capture" at the moment?

Just wondering because Maupin clearly fell out of the media, such that when I read about the Marine captured recently I thought he was the only solider currently missing....are there many more unaccounted for personnel....

[jdj]

12. I got this off .icasualties.org

they used to be lunaville.org and they post all the DOD and Centcom releases. So far Pfc. Maupin is the only one listed as missing. This is my homepage, actually, it is the most thorough site I have found on casualties, etc.

Pfc. Maupin is the one that said "I wanted to help liberate Iraq, but I did not come willingly, because I wanted to stay with my child." He had a baby at home...this is heartbreaking.

[Kukesa]

11. Another link.

From MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5319022/

Seems the video tape is two grainy to present a positive identification.

How sad, how terribly sad.

[cal04]

13. why did they hold this information from the news

when we knew about this all day
this is totally disgusting
Mon Jun-28-04 11:23 AM


Captured US Soldier Maupin Executed
Jun 28, 2004
JUS News Desk

Today at 0945hrs Pfc. Matt Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, held in Iraq was executed. Maupin was a member of the 724th Transportation company, was captured April 9. His convoy was attacked by Iraqi resistance fighters using rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.

According to military representatives close to the Maupin family, Al Jazeera has a videotape of Maupin being shot which they have not yet aired due to the "festivities" in Iraq.

More details to come as they are available.