Thursday, December 28, 2006
Video clip shows kidnapped security contractors may be alive
Kidnapping
Four U.S. security contractors and an Austrian co-worker who were kidnapped in southern Iraq six weeks ago appear to be in good physical condition in a videotape that was shot two weeks after they were taken captive. The footage, which hasn't been made public, is the first proof that all five men, including Minnesota native Paul Reuben, survived an ambush and abduction Nov. 16 in the town of Safwan. The clip was shown to McClatchy News Service in Baghdad on Tuesday night on condition that the provider's name and other identifying details be withheld.
The last man on the tape identifies himself only as "Paul," although it's clear that it's Reuben. The provider said the video was shot in response to a demand for proof that the men were alive before negotiations for their release could begin. The provider was confident that the men are still living and remain in the hands of a little-known Shiite Muslim militant group -- the "Mujahedeen of Jerusalem Company."
Representatives of the U.S. military, the U.S. Embassy and the men's employer -- the Kuwait-based Crescent Security Group -- said they hadn't known of the video and called it the first significant development since the kidnapping. "The families were relieved and glad to hear some news," said a Crescent Security representative who also asked to withhold his name because of security concerns. "I feel good there's a tape out there, but I'm more happy that it's a means to communicate with the kidnappers."
In the video, which runs for 1½ minutes, each of the men repeats the same presumably scripted demand: that U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq. None of the captors appears in the video, and no ransom demand, explicit threat or deadline is given. Three of the hostages are shown together, while the other two appear in separate shots that may have been taken elsewhere. The video begins with a shot of the three with their hands cuffed in front of them, standing in a row against a backdrop of gold-colored drapes. The men identify themselves as John Young, 44, of Kansas City, Mo.; Jonathan Cote, 23, of Gainesville, Fla., and Bert Nussbaumer, 25, of Vienna. All three wear identical white short-sleeved undershirts, gray pajama-like pants and socks. The video shows all three men, then zooms in on each hostage's face.
Young, with a mustache and calm demeanor, blinks rapidly several times before beginning. "I work in private security in Iraq," Young says. "I am asking the people of my country to please help me and my friends get out of Iraq and to pressure the government to remove troops from Iraq." Next is Cote (pronounced "Ko TAY"), who's the only hostage with visible signs of injury. He has slight bruising and swelling around his nose and red splotches on his face. He speaks calmly. "I work for a private security company," Cote says. "I'm asking the American people to put pressure on the government to leave Iraq to help me and my friends get out of here." The last of the trio is the dark-haired Nussbaumer, who speaks with a thick accent and describes himself an "Austrian citizen." His voice is the least clear, but he appears to say, "I want you to get me and my friends out of Iraq."
The video then cuts to a shot of a fourth hostage, who identifies himself as "Josh Munz, from California, USA." He's clean-shaven and doesn't appear to be handcuffed. He also is dressed in nondescript pajama-style clothing and speaks before a white backdrop -- not the same golden curtains as the previous scene. "I was in the United States Marine Corps, in Haditha and Fallujah," Munz says, referring to two predominantly Sunni Muslim towns where fighting has been fierce.
The clip then cuts to a similar white backdrop, but of a different material. The last man appears to be sitting down, though his legs aren't visible. His hands aren't cuffed. The hostage identifies himself only as "Paul," though it's clear that he's Paul Reuben, a former St. Louis Park police officer whose family had previously released his name and photo. His twin, Patrick Reuben, said in an e-mail that the brothers had turned 40 on Nov. 24, eight days after the kidnapping. Paul Reuben alludes to his birthday in the video. "I'm 39 years old, or 40; I'm not quite sure of today's date," he says. "I'm from Buffalo, Minnesota. I'm married. I have twin daughters -- they're 16 -- and I have a stepson that's 16." He grins nervously when he flubs a line at the end of his recorded statement. "I'm asking America to release us by getting our troops out of America," he says. Then Reuben turns his gaze from the camera, apparently in response to someone who points out the error. He gives a little laugh and says, "I'm sorry, out of Iraq."
The camera zooms in for a close-up of Reuben's face and the video ends with a tight shot of his toothy smile.
Reuben's family was relieved to hear the news, said Patrick Reuben, a Minneapolis police officer, who said he got a call early Wednesday about the videotape and later listened to the audiotape.
Patrick also said he has been told by U.S. government officials to not discuss the situation, but he acknowledged that the videotape brings hope for his brother's release.
The last man on the tape identifies himself only as "Paul," although it's clear that it's Reuben. The provider said the video was shot in response to a demand for proof that the men were alive before negotiations for their release could begin. The provider was confident that the men are still living and remain in the hands of a little-known Shiite Muslim militant group -- the "Mujahedeen of Jerusalem Company."
Representatives of the U.S. military, the U.S. Embassy and the men's employer -- the Kuwait-based Crescent Security Group -- said they hadn't known of the video and called it the first significant development since the kidnapping. "The families were relieved and glad to hear some news," said a Crescent Security representative who also asked to withhold his name because of security concerns. "I feel good there's a tape out there, but I'm more happy that it's a means to communicate with the kidnappers."
In the video, which runs for 1½ minutes, each of the men repeats the same presumably scripted demand: that U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq. None of the captors appears in the video, and no ransom demand, explicit threat or deadline is given. Three of the hostages are shown together, while the other two appear in separate shots that may have been taken elsewhere. The video begins with a shot of the three with their hands cuffed in front of them, standing in a row against a backdrop of gold-colored drapes. The men identify themselves as John Young, 44, of Kansas City, Mo.; Jonathan Cote, 23, of Gainesville, Fla., and Bert Nussbaumer, 25, of Vienna. All three wear identical white short-sleeved undershirts, gray pajama-like pants and socks. The video shows all three men, then zooms in on each hostage's face.
Young, with a mustache and calm demeanor, blinks rapidly several times before beginning. "I work in private security in Iraq," Young says. "I am asking the people of my country to please help me and my friends get out of Iraq and to pressure the government to remove troops from Iraq." Next is Cote (pronounced "Ko TAY"), who's the only hostage with visible signs of injury. He has slight bruising and swelling around his nose and red splotches on his face. He speaks calmly. "I work for a private security company," Cote says. "I'm asking the American people to put pressure on the government to leave Iraq to help me and my friends get out of here." The last of the trio is the dark-haired Nussbaumer, who speaks with a thick accent and describes himself an "Austrian citizen." His voice is the least clear, but he appears to say, "I want you to get me and my friends out of Iraq."
The video then cuts to a shot of a fourth hostage, who identifies himself as "Josh Munz, from California, USA." He's clean-shaven and doesn't appear to be handcuffed. He also is dressed in nondescript pajama-style clothing and speaks before a white backdrop -- not the same golden curtains as the previous scene. "I was in the United States Marine Corps, in Haditha and Fallujah," Munz says, referring to two predominantly Sunni Muslim towns where fighting has been fierce.
The clip then cuts to a similar white backdrop, but of a different material. The last man appears to be sitting down, though his legs aren't visible. His hands aren't cuffed. The hostage identifies himself only as "Paul," though it's clear that he's Paul Reuben, a former St. Louis Park police officer whose family had previously released his name and photo. His twin, Patrick Reuben, said in an e-mail that the brothers had turned 40 on Nov. 24, eight days after the kidnapping. Paul Reuben alludes to his birthday in the video. "I'm 39 years old, or 40; I'm not quite sure of today's date," he says. "I'm from Buffalo, Minnesota. I'm married. I have twin daughters -- they're 16 -- and I have a stepson that's 16." He grins nervously when he flubs a line at the end of his recorded statement. "I'm asking America to release us by getting our troops out of America," he says. Then Reuben turns his gaze from the camera, apparently in response to someone who points out the error. He gives a little laugh and says, "I'm sorry, out of Iraq."
The camera zooms in for a close-up of Reuben's face and the video ends with a tight shot of his toothy smile.
Reuben's family was relieved to hear the news, said Patrick Reuben, a Minneapolis police officer, who said he got a call early Wednesday about the videotape and later listened to the audiotape.
Patrick also said he has been told by U.S. government officials to not discuss the situation, but he acknowledged that the videotape brings hope for his brother's release.
