Insurgent Video Seems to Show U.S. Hostage in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050125/wl_nm/iraq_american_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An insurgent video distributed in Iraq (news - web sites) and seen by Reuters appears to show an American citizen being held hostage by militants and pleading for his life as a gun is held to his head.

The 60-second video, seen on Tuesday, shows a man identifying himself as U.S. citizen Roy Hallams sitting against a black background with his legs crossed, anxiously rubbing his hands together as he appeals to the camera.

"I have been arrested by a resistance group in Iraq. I'm asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved that I work for American forces," he says on the tape. The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified.

The U.S. embassy in Iraq said it had no immediate information.

The man, whose thick beard is flecked with white and who appears scared, speaks clearly but nervously on the tape and repeatedly tenses his fists as he is talking. He is dressed in civilian clothes and does not say when or where he was seized.

[booksenkatz]

1. When I went to rate that story around 5:40, there was one vote and it was

ONE. These freeps just cannot abide having the world know about this kind of stuff, especially the man's comments about Bush -- doubtful that they were HIS words, but we still can't have ugly words about our grinning, kill-happy fraud king displayed in top-rated stories, can we?

[Azathoth]

2. Very smart

Denouncing * and appealing to Arab and Muslim leaders is a good tactic; it throws the ball into their court. Even if he wanted to, Dubya can't do jackshit to help this guy, but Muslim and Arab leaders might be able to, and if they refuse to try and help, it will make them look very bad at a time when they are working to improve their image.

Sadly though, I fear the next video we see of Mr. Hallams will feature his head making an early departure from his body.

[StClone]

4. The phrase

"Let's roll" takes on a hideous meaning no matter how Bush extols his virtues of war.

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Working for American forces, eh?

We all have occupational hazards, Roy.

Good luck. I mean ... good-bye.

[biftonnorton]

5. You could be kinda human

"When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be kind-a human
If I only had a heart.

I'd be tender, I'd be gentle
And awful sentimental
Regarding love and art
I'd be friends with the sparrows
And the boy who shoots the arrows,
If I only had a heart."

[FlemingsGhost]

6. I have little compassion for the pieces of shit "working" in Iraq.

He knew where he was going. Money, God or glory called to him like a siren.

Cause -- Effect.

[Earth_First]

10. Let's be real here...

Regardless of his involvement. You are exhibiting the same depraved indifference that you denounce those who are waging this war. This is a human being.

[0007]

14. Send your sweet poem to junior and his crime cabal

Perhaps they'll like it enough to see the passion in it to bring the troops home and stop this daylight robbery.

[Career Prole]

7. Newer AP article has a couple more details...

...and was also rated 1 with 1 vote. :eyes:

"Roy Hallums, 56, was seized Nov. 1 along with Robert Tarongoy of the Philippines during an armed assault on their compound in Baghdad's Mansour district. The two were working for a Saudi company that does catering for the Iraqi army. Both are missing."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050125/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_hostage

[Gasping4Truth]

8. His daughter has a website on him

Here

[leftchick]

9. New link... Held since November...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) A videotape monitored Tuesday shows an American abducted last November by gunmen in Baghdad pleading for his life and appealing to Arab rulers, including Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, to intercede to spare his life.

Roy Hallums, 56, was seized Nov. 1 along with Robert Tarongoy of the Philippines during an armed assault on their compound in Baghdad's Mansour district. The two were working for a Saudi company that does catering for the Iraqi army. Both are missing.

On the tape, Hallums, with a rifle pointed at his head, stated his name and said ``I have worked with American forces.''

``I am please asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved I worked for American forces,'' he said. ``I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who've been pushed into this hellhole.''

Hallums, speaking slowly, said he was asking for help from ``Arab rulers especially President Moammar Gadhafi because he's known for helping those who are suffering.''


http://cbsnewyork.com/international/Iraq-USHostage-ai/resources_news_html

[ECH1969]

12. Didn't this guy chose to go

to this hell hole?

[leftchick]

17. yup

makes it hard to sympathize when they know the dangers. But I do.

[leftchick]

18. I would be willing to bet....

his statement about bush** was coerced. Most of these contractors are freepers. They think they are working for a better Iraq and for our freedoms and support the troops. yada yada...

[radwriter0555]

11. "I'm not asking president bush for help, because of his selfishness and

unconcern for putting us in this hell hole in iraq..." was a snip of the video I JUST saw on the teevee, local news.

Interesting THAT sentence didn't make the press release?

[Earth_First]

15. It is, isn't it...

Meanwhile, you have people making comments such as this:

I have little compassion for the pieces of shit "working" in Iraq.

He knew where he was going. Money, God or glory called to him like a siren.

Cause -- Effect.

[henrik larssonisking]

13. praying for this dude

[NJCher]

16. tragic

Roy Hallums, another victim of these meaningless, greedy war for oil.

He may or may not have made the choice to go. Maybe it was an unwritten understanding with his employer that he go--or no job.

At age 56, not many want to go job hunting.

My heart goes out to this family. I can only imagine the day-to-day agony of not knowing.


Cher

[leftchick]

19. Photo of Mr. Hallams. He is praying....

In this image taken from insurgents video released on Tuesday Jan. 25, 2005 a man who identifies himself as American Roy Hallums pleads for Arab rulers to intercede to spare his life. Hallums, 56, was seized Nov. 1 along with Robert Tarongoy of the Philippines during an armed assault on their compound in Baghdad's Mansour district in Iraq (news

very sad

[alfredo]

20. A total surprise

Fox news actually printed his full statement, including his bashing of the boy king.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145324,00.html