She probably has been screaming at the press, but their to busy worrying about who Kim K is screwing now or if Beiber has pubic hair yet.

I agree, something is fishy here. If he was military and got out and then returned as a civilian as claimed, the US military should still have been aware of his presence and there would have been someone who noticed when he disappeared. If this person really is married with a wife and kids, I would expect them to be coming forward very quickly. If not, then something is seriously wrong. This could very well be a half baked attempt to get someone into the US. Also, if this man was no longer military when he as captured, why is he picture wearing combat fatigues.

It sounds odd, but not necessarily unbelievable... I'm happy that the Sadrists released him... that's a good sign. Muqtada al-Sadr is not known for being compassionate to Americans--but that was largely due to our occupation of his country.

In the story, they explain the uniform, belonged to the militia. He had to have something to wear. Next point, he might be a naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Iraq, and be married to an Iraqi woman, still in Iraq.

It is still rather unusual for something like this to be occuring. There will be very little information put out until the governing officials actually know what the real story, (or reasonable facsimile thereof,) is.

brutisbear5- ??? it's our government that's involved in a plot to return a US soldier to native soil??? governments keep secrets so NO ONE can find that secret, stop being a hippy. Vietnam had more NVA and VC casualties than US, you're acting just like an acid-user. Vietnam could've been won easily except for americans with your kind of attitude.

He won't be trusted with anything important again, but he might make a shiny trophy if the investigation is clean.

there was no oil- only american faith in freedom against a united sociopathic government that wished to rule the world with fear. we wanted to end communism so that people didn't have to live in fear of execution and torture by the government. i'd rather be angry at corporations trying to get me my oil than civilians being butchered by people theyre expected to trust.

Please..................There are "officially" no MIA or POW left in Vietnam either.

@Truth-3385425 Vietnam could have been won? Greater minds that yours studied that prospect for years.. Try reading the Pentagon Papers. To do as you suggest would have meant war with China and Russia.. 'Coulda won Vietnam', what an ignorant claim to make 50 years later, meh!

I am a vietnam vet and I approve this message!

@Ed #1.13: I too am a Vietnam Veteran. I agree with you.

Those who claim US could have "Won" in Vietnam, my question is this. "Won what?"

I want to see the pictures of Osama Bin Laden I want proof he is dead 8) Just because the Government tells us he is dead doesn't mean it's true.

Release the pics

The moment UN comes in the picture, anything is possible. Many lies originate from there!

Hope, at least, people remember the latest Iraqi wars (1991 and 2003) and UN and its agencies roles.

They are being repeated on Iran and Syria. Oil prices are nearing $125.00.

UN is just a puppet in the hands of Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists and their US political agents.

m-612920

You are the screamer and not a help in diplomatic efforts.

this country can't take care of it's own people but we will spend a billion dollars on two wars that is none of our business what makes us the world police i never voted for that let them other country's alone and we want have worry about our people when they go over their we need all the friends we can get blowing up other country's is not the way to make friends BRING OUR TROOPS HOME

Vietnam was a civil war that started after WWII between the French and their local supporters and the Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh. The French blackmailed the Americans into financial support to the tune of $50 billion in exchange for France supporting NATO in western europe. Later Eisenhower added MACV (military trainers), but refused American air support or combat troops.

Kennedy sent in a photo op token, 7,000 Marines making a landing from the sea to a beach containing reporters and camera men. Before he was assassinated, Kennedy was already regretting his decision to send in combat troops, primarily due to the demands of the Catholic Archdiocess of Boston (both he and the Speaker of the House, 'Tip' O'Neill, were deeply indebted to the Archdiocese for their political careers).

Johnson had to make a choice of withdrawal or upping the ante. He chose the latter, up to over 500,000 troops by 1968. We were never winning. We controlled most of South Vietnam during the day, and a much smaller bit at night. The South Vietnamese government was very corrupt (similar to Afghanistan) and was allienated from many of its citizens.

The only reliable allies of significance that we had in South Vietnam were the Vietnamese Catholics (less than 10% of the population), many of whom had fled from the north and who were largely thought of by their fellow citizens as traitors who had supported the French. The Vietnamese themselves were intelligent and experienced. We were simply in a civil war on the side of a corrupt, unpopular minority. We could have 'won' if we had been willing to kill nearly half the population...several millions. We only killed 300,000--400,000. Not nearly enough to win.

Needless to say, I served in Vietnam (2/27th Infantry). I also spoke fluent French and a bit of Vietnamese and so had the opportunity to become better acquainted with the Vietnamese than most others who served there. I came to like and respect those folks, even the ones shooting at me. It was not personal. :-)

'Fake American hostage' handed over to US embassy in Iraq

Keep a close eye on this one.

Suppose the "gift" to the American public is a time released biological infection within the body of this fellow? Wonder if anyone has checked this out.

never happen

There is no such thing as a compassionate Muslim, they all just need to go live on the Moon, our planet would be a much better place!!!

Would that be Newt's lunar colony?

Guantanamoon?

Kevin in Texas There are compassionate Muslims just like there is compassionate Christians.

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Kevibn in Texas: After sometime, even moon will not be visible if they all move there. Instead, it will be bloods all over flowing down.

Compassionate Muslims and Christians??? There are no such thing. Lord Jesus is no different than Lord Darth Vader.

Get over yourself and grow up......

Compassionate Muslims, Christians, Athiests, Democrats, Republicans, etc, etc. Don't try to alienate yourself wolfpack because you have no religion. There is no such thing as compassion anymore, just blame. There may be "acts" of compassion, but that same person will turn around the next day and not give a damn about someone else if it doesn't fit their agenda.

Yes I agree this sounds fishy, but this is quite the norm for the media. First the Iraqi people are separated by either political, religious, or plain old radical differences. So in reality, and speaking from experience, I know very many Iraqis who love and admire the USA, to include Kurdish as well. The Iraqis and Kurdish I had the sincere pleasure in meeting and knowing as friends are hard working and expect little to keep a smile on their face. They will do anything they can to put one on yours. Most are very humble and will drink chai and dance with you in a second. I had to add that as my response to your comment. The picture of this man shown reveals camouflage utilities with no patches that I could see. This doesn't mean too much as we all do not know the facts here, as many civilian contractors would wear this throughout Iraq. His language is quite fluent and well versed. If he returned to Iraq as a civilian, he could be with any of thousands contractors, and yes to include the CIA. But if it was the CIA, they would not have allowed such a long stay unless of course Washington or other high power wrote it off for reasons of no longer prolonging the war and causing yet another implosion of propaganda warfare. To have the media contacted about this story reveals another curiosity as to whether or not Washington was in tune with this or not prior to release. Not hearing anything regarding his own family is sort of strange, but there again we don't know the facts. Given the history with our media and the political agendas of the world, I find anything hard to believe anymore with these nuts. Overall, if he is all that he says he is, welcome home brother.

First thing is to check his long form birth Certificate, fine out who his father is, what countries he live in before Iraq. Fishy, I would say CAMEL more than like it??? Arabs never lie??? How is our Billion dollar Embassy doing over there!!!

lacy

described himself as a former member of the U.S. military who was seized in June 2011 after he returned to Iraq as a civilian, Reuters reported.

Maybe because he wasn't a soldier! You should read the article before you comment.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of disappeared Americans each year. They just don't all make the 90 second news slots reserved for things other than sensational, conflict-ridden, divisive, political, investment driven gossipy heresay that passes for facts ever since broadcast news becaome profit driven industries.

Have you ever heard of close encounters of the 4th kind, some of these missing people have been taken by alliens from other planets, this may sound like i'm joking but after what i witnessed in 1977 i say UFO's are real.

The article states he was a former member of the US military so that means he was a member of some branch of service, went back after he was out and was then taken into custody. I'm not sure this means he worked for a military contractor or was one himself.

Yes Muslims and Christians have a strong history, but just like Christians the Muslims have split into different religious orders, teaching different versions and laws. Hate is easy to spread and people who crave power use it and twist information to gain followers. People one to one are usually friendly no matter what country they are from, unless they are athiest.

Atheists aren't friendly? Why, because they don't go around creating wars, torturing and burning non-believers at the stake like Christians and Muslims do?

Wow, you need a serious reality-check.

Miner, you are SO right. Give an atheist an opportunity to spew and he spews all over the internet, as if regular people with brains really cared about his empty thoughts. Then, because we Christians disagree with him, he lumps us all together and says WE have killed people and spread hate, in the name of religion. The religion of atheism is one of the most hateful, slanderous, and hypocritical religions out there. They offer conjecture and call it scientific proof. They spout hypotheses and call them real. Darwin is their god, and they misquote the Founders of our great country, making them out to be the same mushy thinking people as themselves.

Yeah, atheism has a lot to offer...a lot of fairy tales wrapped up in Aesop's fable type thinking.

Atheism is not a religion.

The same things could be said about Christianity, which is full of fables and fairy tales. Talking snakes, men swallowed by whales, burning bushes, plagues, resurrection, the rapture are all good examples.

Nice of you good Christian types to completely disregard the teaching of Jesus Christ and start throwing stones at somebody who doesn't believe the same thing you do. Jesus would be ashamed of you.

I am also sure there was a contract clause warning that this was a possibility and that family members going public with it could jeopardize his or her life and that of other civilian contractors in Iraq and the companies ability to attract, recruit, and hire new employes, therefore no payout of life insurance benefits if contract broken.

If he was a civilian contractor working for the U.S. Government, at the time of his capture, then the UCMJ would have applied, since he was under their jurisdiction (beginning June 9, 2007). However, military justice does not operate under civilian control. The "item" might well have been known to U.S. Government, but the channels for release would not have been under State Department Control. Rather, they would have been under Defense Department control.

I can imagine that this issue is not foreign to either the U.S. or Iraq, but for reasons of national defense (and humanitarian concerns) on both sides, the man (whose name is not mentioned) had to "bide his time" until it was determined that he was no threat to the Iraqi government, and/or Muqtada-al-Sadr, or, for that matter, to any other of the various tribal and political factions involved in Iraqi government.

I'm glad the man is free. I surmise from his quote, that he was detained without just cause, and that the Iraqi government is releasing him to avoid embarrassment or further implication in illegal detention, and/or to avoid the taint of Muqtada-al-Sadr's regional, sectarian hegemony.

Good for Iraq. Good for the man. Once his name has been released, no doubt we'll know about his family, also. In the meantime, "Discretion is the better part of valor", and I have no desire to interfere with that. Let him remain anonymous, or not, at his own behest.

No where does he state he was a civilian contractor. There is a lot of people "assuming" a lot of things here. He only says he was a civilian at the time. He has not stated what the hell he was doing in country and that should make everyone's eyebrows raise. I believe this guy has a background or reason he doesn't want to talk about but was thrust forward by Iraqi govt in front of cameras so they can tout how awesome they are at negotiations...something this guy is hiding for sure.

There is a lot of people "assuming" a lot of things here.

I believe this guy has a background or reason he doesn't want to talk about

something this guy is hiding for sure.

JMG-1138542: "Never assume". First of all, he wasn't "U.S. military", but a "U.S. Military Contractor" (a civilian denomination). I'm sure the American government is aware of this man's identity, and everything that might pertain. Whether "Mr. X" comes back to the U.S., or stays in Iraq and works, both governments will be "watching" him. As long as his own motives are apparent and honorable, who gives a damn whether he stays there (where he may continue a lucrative career), or comes back here? If I were to employ your fears, then I'd have to wonder if all Americans who work in foreign nations were "potential terrorists" if they decided to hang up their overseas job and come home.

This man is being remanded into U.S. custody, as a non-combatant, independent businessman--for "humanitarian reasons" (aka: Iraq realizes that it has no business detaining him).

Nowhere does it state he was a military contractor. Only simply that he is an American citizen, read it again.

This whole thing is fishy and I don't believe it. I wouldn't be surprised if he was just some lonely guy with PTSD and a couple screws that were already loose, returned to Iraq for some godawful reason and got himself kidnapped on the streets. I hate to say it but this reeks of publicity hounding. I'll be looking for his book in Barnes and Noble...

To 1hucares,

...senior Sadrist official Abdul Hadi al-Mutairi said the man was a U.S. soldier who was captured June 18, but a U.S. military official told NBC News there are no remaining US military hostages in Iraq.

H e described himself as a former member of the U.S. military...returned to Iraq as a civilian.

wearing a military uniform without insignia.

Special order?

...both governments will be "watching" him. (your quote)

We can't even keep track of the illegal immigrants and those with a Visa or Green that are in our country now. And, as someone else mentioned, where is 'the family'?

No Muslin or Iraqy would do that to us. They Love US. They come over here and open a new 7-eleven on the corner. Its the American Way.

Probably just a contractor working for one of the many US companies over there. I bet it happens quite a bit.

Wasn't there at one point in the war more civilians contractors than soldiers??

4,487 soldiers dead, 32,226 wounded.

1,554 contractors dead, 43,880 wounded.

10 US soldiers captured 9 rescued

5 US contractors captured, none rescued. I guess we got one back.

STOP with conspiracy theories people.

I'm with you, alex cali. Most of the governments of the world, and their citizens, likewise, are working on "daily business" and wouldn't have the time, let alone the slightest expertise in running a totalitarian conspiracy. Agreement between diplomats doesn't constitute a "conspiracy" anymore than agreement between two people could be projected as a conspiracy against all others not of their concern, interest, persuasion, or effort.

I've been tired of conspiracy theories for many years. To put it in terms of ordinary masse psychology: "Most people aren't concerned with 'you', at all. They are much more concerned with themselves".

That's good news, if you're paranoid. If you aren't, then you aren't concerned. Real conspiracies present themselves overtly, in short order. These can be addressed by groups, all the way from a few gathered together, to an entire nation. There's never a need to "micromanage" the unfolding events of Reality, if you know--and 'police'--yourself.

He's the only one who's said he's an american so far. I'll withhold until I hear officially from the govt.

Who comes out in front of cameras on public TV? Ha, nice try.

It says he went back as a civilian.

Did you even read the story?? AWOL? what an idi@t you are.

No HE says he was a civilian. We have yet to hear from the military about this, don't be so quick to take this guy's word(s) at face-value.

Houstonite: Muqtada al_Sadr is apparently not running the Iraqi government.

Not smart enough to stay home and wanted some of the money we keep sending there.

He could have saved himself the trouble and stayed right here working for Halliburton or Lockheed then!

EXACTLY!

What does an American look like?

Right. Because everyone knows the only americans are of white complexion, wear levis and hooters t-shirts around their wife and kids and sit on their ass every sunday worshipping a bunch of massive black dudes tackling each other over a leather ball.

Tarzan you more than likely don't look American.

As was said on "Robocop"... I'll buy that for a dollar!

So true, cheesy, remember when they actually reported the story with significant details? I just watched, again, the 1987 movie 'Broadcast News' with William Hurt, Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter. The fluff pieces with the loathsome spelling and grammar...ugh! Walter Cronkite was a pioneer, but there are still rooted journalists like Christiane Amanpour.

So what do you do if you have a supposedly breaking new story but no further details yet? Withhold it while your competitors run it? This is a problem that's been going on in news for well over a hundred years. Worse when the only info was gleaned by telegraph or worse, horse mail.

And by what facts do you base your comment on?

No, Tim in WA: MSNBC's reportage on this matter is just a reflection on the difference between Military and Civilian jobs. No "left" or "right" here. We all know that our military comes into direct confrontational conflict with warring tribes and other interests outside the norms of business and diplomatic efforts. This isn't something "odd". Actually, I find it refreshingly cogent, with no "twists" involved.