U.S. hostage asking for help from Gadhafi

[J-10]

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/meast/01/25/iraq.main/vert.hallums.jpgVideo shows American hostage Roy Hallums, who was abducted in Baghdad in November.


U.S. hostage pleads for life in tape
Unclear when tape was made or whether captive is still alive
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Posted: 2304 GMT (0704 HKT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A newly released videotape shows an American taken hostage last year in Iraq pleading to be spared from a "definite death" as a rifle barrel points at his head.

The video offers no clues as to when Roy Hallums' captors made the video or whether he is still alive.

In the video, Hallums says he worked with American forces and was "arrested by a resistance group in Iraq."

Hallums and five others were taken hostage in an attack in Baghdad's al-Mansour neighborhood November 1. A security guard and one of about 20 attackers died in the gunbattle.

The kidnappers later released four captives but kept Hallums and Filipino accountant Robert Tarongoy. All six worked for a Saudi-based company. The U.S. State Department confirmed in December that Hallums, a 56-year-old father of two, was taken. Tarongoy was not shown in the video.

Hallums, visibly nervous, makes no demands in the 60-second video, but he asks for help "so that I can be released as quickly as possible from this definite death."

"I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says. "I am asking for help from Arab rulers, especially President Moammar Gadhafi, because he is known for helping those who are suffering."

Hallums also says his "health is in a very bad situation."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Tuesday the department had obtained a copy of the video and was evaluating it. Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, he said, were working with Iraqi officials and the U.S. military on the case.

Boucher said that the State Department had been in touch with members of Hallums' family "since the disappearance in November."

Attempts by CNN to reach members of Hallums' family in the United States have so far been unsuccessful.

Two other Americans remain unaccounted for in Iraq -- Spc. Matt Maupin and Kellogg Brown & Root truck driver Timothy Bell, both missing since their convoy came under attack April 9, 2004, near Baghdad International Airport.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/25/iraq.main/index.html

[usa320]

"I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says. "I am asking for help from Arab rulers, especially President Moammar Gadhafi, because he is known for helping those who are suffering."


Are you kidding me????


Perhaps this is some kind of code from the terrorists asking Gadhaffi for help?

Anyways, im sure he would welcome help from president bush, hes just saying what they tell him to... Youd be surprised what a person will say when they have a gun to their head.[/code]

[J-10]

US analyzing purported hostage tape
Tue Jan 25, 3:28 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US officials said they were studying a purported hostage tape broadcast on Arab television to determine if the man seen on the recording was an American contract worker missing in Iraq since November.

The State Department withheld comment on the tape broadcast by Al-Jazeera television showing a man identified as Roy Hallums pleading for help from Arab leaders to secure his release.

"We've been able now to obtain a copy of the videotape," department spokeman Richard Boucher said. "We're analyzing it. It purportedly shows Mr Hallums as a hostage, but I don't have any final judgments on it at this point."

On December 18, the US embassy in Iraq appealed for the release of an American hostage, identified as Hallums, 56, who was kidnapped with five other people from the Baghdad office of a Saudi contracting firm.

In the video, the hostage had a gun to his head as he sat cross-legged on the ground admitting he was working for US forces in Iraq and seeking the help of Libya's Moamer Kadhafi and other Arab leaders.

Boucher said US officials were in touch with Hallums' relatives since his disappearance in November and the US Embassy in Baghdad was in contact with the Iraqi authorities about all unaccounted for Americans.
From (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050125/pl_afp/iraqhostageusreax_050125202811)

[SeanAshi]

I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says.I'm sure he was forced to say that.

[khukuri]

I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says.I'm sure he was forced to say that.

You shouldnt. Gaddafi has the latest time been very helpful and payed alot of the ransons for hostages around the world. Hes trying to make his reputation better.

[SeanAshi]

I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says.I'm sure he was forced to say that.

You shouldnt. Gaddafi has the latest time been very helpful and payed alot of the ransons for hostages around the world. Hes trying to make his reputation better.Ever hear of words like duress?, coercion? That's exactly what it sounds like.

[-Jack-]

I'm not asking for any help from President Bush, because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who have been pushed into this hell hole," he says.I'm sure he was forced to say that.

You shouldnt. Gaddafi has the latest time been very helpful and payed alot of the ransons for hostages around the world. Hes trying to make his reputation better.

Oh wonderful ! he funds terrorists ... I ain't praising that prick.

[SHAM]

There cant be many places left in iraq where they can hide hostages. Has there been any reports of any units actively searching for hostages. I mean there soul objective being to find the hostages?
What about the possibility of them taking hostages over the border into syria?
I hope hes alive and i hope they find him, but sadly i wont hold my breath.
As for what he says for them on videos..who cares what he says..ofcourse he is forced..just aslong as they keep him alive.

[-Jack-]

There cant be many places left in iraq where they can hide hostages. Has there been any reports of any units actively searching for hostages. I mean there soul objective being to find the hostages?
What about the possibility of them taking hostages over the border into syria?
I hope hes alive and i hope they find him, but sadly i wont hold my breath.
As for what he says for them on videos..who cares what he says..ofcourse he is forced..just aslong as they keep him alive.

The MOD admitted that the SAS/SBS where ready to get Ken Bigley, they said they kept moving him and lost track before he was killed ... i'm not 100% sure where i read this, but i think it was fairly official otherwise i wouldn't have bothered to remember.

[SHAM]

There cant be many places left in iraq where they can hide hostages. Has there been any reports of any units actively searching for hostages. I mean there soul objective being to find the hostages?
What about the possibility of them taking hostages over the border into syria?
I hope hes alive and i hope they find him, but sadly i wont hold my breath.
As for what he says for them on videos..who cares what he says..ofcourse he is forced..just aslong as they keep him alive.

The MOD admitted that the SAS/SBS where ready to get Ken Bigley, they said they kept moving him and lost track before he was killed ... i'm not 100% sure where i read this, but i think it was fairly official otherwise i wouldn't have bothered to remember.

I think i read the same thing in the news of the world or something of that ilk so didnt put much faith in it. Is there any units still actively searching or are they just taking it as it comes? i.e. if they come across someone in there patrols..great. and if they dont..too bad.

[-Jack-]

There cant be many places left in iraq where they can hide hostages. Has there been any reports of any units actively searching for hostages. I mean there soul objective being to find the hostages?
What about the possibility of them taking hostages over the border into syria?
I hope hes alive and i hope they find him, but sadly i wont hold my breath.
As for what he says for them on videos..who cares what he says..ofcourse he is forced..just aslong as they keep him alive.

The MOD admitted that the SAS/SBS where ready to get Ken Bigley, they said they kept moving him and lost track before he was killed ... i'm not 100% sure where i read this, but i think it was fairly official otherwise i wouldn't have bothered to remember.

I think i read the same thing in the news of the world or something of that ilk so didnt put much faith in it. Is there any units still actively searching or are they just taking it as it comes? i.e. if they come across someone in there patrols..great. and if they dont..too bad.

More than likely your right on that ... no point wasting money with such a slim chance of success, possibly putting his/her life in danger if the terrorists get onto it that they are being 'monitored'
So it'll just be pot luck if they find any .... which they won't, lets face it.

[SHAM]

There cant be many places left in iraq where they can hide hostages. Has there been any reports of any units actively searching for hostages. I mean there soul objective being to find the hostages?
What about the possibility of them taking hostages over the border into syria?
I hope hes alive and i hope they find him, but sadly i wont hold my breath.
As for what he says for them on videos..who cares what he says..ofcourse he is forced..just aslong as they keep him alive.

The MOD admitted that the SAS/SBS where ready to get Ken Bigley, they said they kept moving him and lost track before he was killed ... i'm not 100% sure where i read this, but i think it was fairly official otherwise i wouldn't have bothered to remember.

I think i read the same thing in the news of the world or something of that ilk so didnt put much faith in it. Is there any units still actively searching or are they just taking it as it comes? i.e. if they come across someone in there patrols..great. and if they dont..too bad.

More than likely your right on that ... no point wasting money with such a slim chance of success, possibly putting his/her life in danger if the terrorists get onto it that they are being 'monitored'
So it'll just be pot luck if they find any .... which they won't, lets face it.

There is a thread somewhere about the deffinition of terrorislm and it being a tactic in war. The face and words of this man and other's sums it up pretty much.