Iraq: 5 Years - 5 Hostages - 5 Fingers

originally posted - 2008-03-14 08:54:56 -1100

Deeply disturbing news released in Austria on Wednesday that 5 severed fingers belonging to a group of missing contractors were delivered to the US Army in Iraq.

The missing contractors are:

Jonathon Cote, 25, of Getzville, New York
Joshua Munns, 25, of Redding, California
Bert Nussbaumer, 26, of Austria
Paul Reuben, 41, of Andover, Minnesota
Ronald Withrow, 40, of Lubbock, Texas

Joshua Munns' mother, Jackie Stewart, launched a website last year to call attention to the group of missing contractors after feeling frustration with a lack of progress in gaining the men's release. The website, The Missing 5, is open about its intent to raise money to pay for information and/or a ransom.

Captives' fingers sent to U.S. army in Iraq
By Rasha Madkour, AP, March 14, 2008

Severed fingers of five Western workers were sent to the U.S. military in Iraq, giving the men's relatives hope they're still alive.

The men were abducted in late 2006 and early 2007, a U.S. official said yesterday in Washington.

There are 14 American men currently known to be missing in Iraq. Volunteer contributors to the Wikipedia actually do a pretty good job of keeping the Wiki list of hostages up to date.

Foreign Hostages in Iraq

Kirk von Ackermann missing since October 9, 2003

Timothy Bell missing since April 9, 2004

SSG Keith Maupin kidnapped on April 9, 2004

Aban Elias kidnapped on May 3, 2004

Radim Sadeq Mohammed Sadeq also known as "Dean Sadek", kidnapped on November 2, 2004

Jeffrey Ake kidnapped on April 11, 2005

Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie kidnapped on October 23, 2006

Paul Johnson Reuben kidnapped on November 16, 2006

Jonathon Cote kidnapped on November 16, 2006

Joshua Munns (also spelled Munz) kidnapped on November 16, 2006

John Roy Young kidnapped on November 16, 2006

Ronald Withrow kidnapped on January 5, 2007