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Iraq-Jordan
Not quite Rathergate, But "CodyGate" Pretty Embarrassing to AP
2005-02-02
A Web site posted a photograph of what it claimed was a kidnapped U.S. soldier, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity and the U.S. military said no soldiers were missing. A toy manufacturer said the figure in the photo resembled one of its military action figures, originally produced for sale at U.S. bases in Kuwait. . . . The photo in the posting showed a figure dressed in desert camouflage fatigues, wearing a vest and knee pads and with a gun pointed to its head. All the items are similar to ones that come in a box with the action figure, named ``Cody.''

The figure in the photo appeared stiff and expressionless, and the statement said he was named ``John Adam.'' Liam Cusack, of the toy manufacturer Dragon Models USA, inc., said the image of the soldier portrayed in the photo bore a striking resemblance to the African-American version of its ``Cody'' action figure. ``It is our doll ... to me it definitely looks like it is,'' Cusack told The Associated Press. ``Everything the guy is wearing is exactly what comes with our figure.'' He said the figures were ordered by the U.S. military in Kuwait for sale in their bases, ``so they would have been in region.''
Posted by:sludj

#20  Thanks Sobiesky. That's what I meant to say, but English is only my 3rd language.
Posted by: SwissTex   2005-02-02 10:15:54 PM  

#19  SwissTex, lemme correct you:
Like Badanov (#11) I think someone wanted to see if AP was stupid enough to publish the story.

Howbout dat? :-)
Posted by: Sobiesky   2005-02-02 8:51:18 PM  

#18  Like Badanov (#11) I think someone wanted to see if AP was stupid enough to publish the story.
Posted by: SwissTex   2005-02-02 8:29:35 PM  

#17  This is easily the funniest thread of the day, lol! Great comments!

Now only if this were Scrappleface, instead of the real world of agenda-driven SocioFascistIslamoBats™, I'd feel a lot better about it, heh.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-02 8:16:08 PM  

#16  This ranks right up there with "Evil Bert" and Osama... even though that was from the nutty Islamist corner.
Posted by: Asedwich   2005-02-02 8:11:26 PM  

#15  It may be funny now, but just wait till the AP reports that the jihadists have captured an American woman along with her pink convertible and pony.
Posted by: AJackson   2005-02-02 6:15:31 PM  

#14  None of this is going to shame the media into being more responsible, or less biased.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-02-02 2:07:31 PM  

#13  I hope Duke and Lady Jaye can negotiate for Cody's release from those Al-Cobra fiends.
Posted by: Chris W.   2005-02-02 12:33:35 PM  

#12  I suspect there is a connection between Rathergate and Codygate that hasn't been revealed yet:

Mary Mapes: "And Cody, isn't it true that these are genuine Texas Air National Guard documents?"

Cody: (nods imperceptibly)

Mary Mapes: "And Cody, isn't it true that the Texas Air National Guard was equipped with futuristic typewriters that perfectly imitated software that hadn't been developed yet?"

Cody: (nods imperceptibly)

Mary Mapes: "Thank you, Cody, for verifying these documents."

Mapes turns away. Cody gives middle-finger salute.
Posted by: Matt   2005-02-02 11:04:39 AM  

#11  I bet it went something like this:

Setting: A bar somewhere in Iraq:

Battalion S2 guy to Battalion XO: I bet you $20 I could take a photo of this action figure I got for my son, make it look like a hostage with a jihadi backdrop, and email it in to that Jihadi webmaster we've been watching and by noontime in the USA it will be all over the world.

Battlion XO: You're on.
Posted by: badanov   2005-02-02 10:16:34 AM  

#10  Now, now. Let's not "underhype" this...
Posted by: Jonn Fn Kerry   2005-02-02 10:14:03 AM  

#9  I can't believe Jesse Jackson hasn't gotten involved and offered to negotiate Cody's release. Cody *is* a brother after all. What ever happened to Afro-American solidarity? The Old Jesse would never miss an opportunity to stick it to The Man.

And while we are asking questions, why hasn't President Bush spoken out against this vile crime? It has been nearly 24 hours and not a word from the White House. Enquiring, but deranged minds want to know!
Posted by: SteveS   2005-02-02 10:11:33 AM  

#8  Xactly, 2b, one of these preciousssss moments. The Rathergate was a serious business, some people stil may hold them somewhat credible, based on their level of BDS. But boy, this makes a laughing stock outta these elcubo media. Marvellous.
Posted by: Sobiesky   2005-02-02 9:04:32 AM  

#7  In a general way, I think it should be more embarrassing than Rathergate. There is not a soul alive that saw that picture who did not immediately think, "that looks strange". Yet multiple sources ran with it...NYT, AP, Guardian and the usual suspects.

They've been clinging to the fact that, unlike bloggers, their news is reliable. Yet the blogs picked instantly what they chose to ignore. Those that ran with it, shredded any remaining credibility that had on this point and the humor aspect of this will be used as the ultimate conversation ender to their claims of credibility.

They should have known that - but they traded it all away in their glee to get an image of a "captured soldier" out there.
Posted by: 2b   2005-02-02 8:53:36 AM  

#6  Mike,
No there isn't, it got worse: They got MAJ Matt Mason...
http://halfbakered.blogspot.com/2005/02/new-hostage-photo-released-following.html

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2005-02-02 7:26:16 AM  

#5  Worse news: now the bastards have captured Mr. Bill, the Pink Panther, and Tickle Me Elmo! Is there no end to this madness?
Posted by: Mike   2005-02-02 6:55:40 AM  

#4  I'm starting to wonder if this "Islamist web site" might have been a put-on concocted to get exactly the result it has: making fools of the gullible MSM.

The terrorists are desperate and stupid, but for real stupidity you need the Associated Press.
Posted by: Dave D.   2005-02-02 6:26:40 AM  

#3  I'm surprised the NYSlimes didn't add that the action figure's name is Cody, and the "captured" soldier's name is John.
Posted by: Destro   2005-02-02 4:25:27 AM  

#2  How disappointed the NY Times, NPR, ec must be that this is not a US soldier. Liberals love dead Americans, especially dead American military...
Posted by: badanov   2005-02-02 4:17:32 AM  

#1   The NYT still lists the possibility that it's genuine soldier and only notes that the toy has a "similar stare!"
Posted by: Dan Darling   2005-02-02 2:46:16 AM  

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