posted on July 6, 2004 09:24:53 AM new
Brother: Captors have released Marine
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (CNN) -- The brother of an American Marine who had been taken hostage in Iraq asserted Tuesday that his brother, Cpl. Wassef Hassoun, has been freed.
Sami Hassoun, speaking to CNN from Tripoli, Lebanon, said there is clear "sign" that his brother is "alive" and has been "released."
"We are happy that he is alive," said Sami Hassoun, whose brother is a 24-year-old Marine translator of Lebanese descent.
There was no initial reaction from the U.S. military.
However, Sami Hassoun would not elaborate on where he got his information or what specifically the sign was from his brother.
He said earlier reports that his brother was beheaded in an execution was a shock, and the family gave each other comfort and prayed.
"As soon as the first tape aired on [Arabic-language network] Al-Jazeera TV, we were shocked," Sami Hassoun said. "It was like a never-ending nightmare.
"He's alive and he's released and thank God for that. The sign came to us, we are sure of it."
Monday, a group claiming to have kidnapped Wassef Hassoun said it had taken him to safety after he promised not to return to the American military, Al-Jazeera reported.
The group -- which calls itself "Islamic Response," the security wing of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq -- faxed a statement to the network, saying Hassoun "has been sent to a safe place after he had announced his forgiveness and his determination not to go back to the U.S. forces."
Al-Jazeera broadcast a videotape June 27 showing Hassoun blindfolded, a sword over his head. A narrator on the tape said the captive would be killed if the United States did not free jailed Iraqis.
Hassoun was trained as a truck driver, but worked as an Arabic translator. He was last seen June 19 and was reported missing when he failed to report for duty the next day.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on July 6, 2004 01:56:21 PM new
I know...this has been the strangest hostage taking (?) of all.
My first reaction when he was initially 'abducted' was they wouldn't kill him...he was one of their own. Then I thought no...they've killed plenty of their own while trying to kill American soldiers. But now the story keeps changing.
Either way...I'm sure is family is happy he's alive.
This type of issue was discussed when we first were going to war in Afghanistan. Would Muslim soldiers be willing to fight with/kill their own 'brothers'. Many were quoted as saying their religion forbid it.
