Message Board Member Admits to Hoax of US Soldier's Capture

By SITE Institute

February 4, 2005

A message is currently in circulation on Jihadist message boards in
which an Iraqi by the nickname of "al-Iraqi4" admits to being behind
the hoax of the US soldier's capture by the Mujahideen [using a toy
soldier that he named John Adam]. While some message board members
prayed for the hoaxter's guidance toward righteousness and resorted
to God for judgment, others were furious at him for "demoralizing"
the members.

Following is the translation of the hoaxter's apology message,
written on February 2, 2005:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate,

Soldier John Adam is [only] a toy.

I am a 20-year old Iraqi young man. I am unarmed, independent and do
not belong to any party or group. I apologize to all the parties and
everyone, for I meant nothing by that [no harm].

The picture was a scheme that I made up with a toy that I bought with $5.

Today I am announcing that this news was made up, and that the
picture was of a toy that I worked on with the help of some children.

I cannot provide any information about me because, as I mentioned
earlier, I am unarmed, and any information about me might jeopardize
my life and the lives of my family [members].

My apologies to everyone.