Marine kidnapping a hoax?

[Joe]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5387977

The strange disappearance of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, reportedly kidnapped in Iraq nearly three weeks ago, grows even more mysterious.

Senior Pentagon officials tell NBC News, a man claiming to be Hassoun, called his family in Lebanon and the U.S. embassy in Beirut, saying he was — "released by his kidnappers somewhere in Lebanon" and that he was "waiting to be picked up."

But in Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said U.S. officials remain in the dark. "We have received reports that he may be in contact with various individuals and there are other reports that he might be in Lebanon. But we cannot confirm any of these at this time," said Powell.

Late Wednesday, FBI agents showed up at the Hassoun family home in West Jordan, Utah. And Pentagon officials tell NBC News that the Navy has now launched a criminal investigation into Hassoun's disappearance, and the possibility that his kidnapping may be part of an elaborate hoax.

Few clues since disappearance in June
Hassoun disappeared from his Marine unit on June 20. He showed up a week later in a hostage-style video, with a sword held over his head and his alleged captors threatening to kill him. Terrorist experts say, however, the group said to have held Hassoun is unknown.

"We don't know whether this group is simply an Internet address. ... We don't know if they were simply fabricated. We have no idea what's going on here," says terrorism expert Steve Emerson.

A second group later claimed Hassoun was beheaded — then retracted that claim. Pending the investigation, military officials refuse to say Hassoun's kidnapping was a hoax, but they point out he had reportedly talked openly about leaving his Marine unit to join his family in Lebanon. Whether he was kidnapped and then released along the way remains a mystery.

[Guardsman Bass]

So what else could this be? A very elaborate way to desert?

[Sarevok]

This grows even more confusing.

[Aaron]

An update from CBC

BEIRUT - A U.S. marine believed to have been captured in Iraq and threatened with death has arrived safely at the American Embassy in Beirut, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

A Pentagon official said Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun was safe and appears to be in good health.

Hassoun's return comes as two people were killed in a gun battle on Thursday between members of the marine's clan and people accusing them of being American collaborators. The people killed in the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli were not members of the Hassoun clan, officials said.

Confusion has surrounded the fate of Hassoun, 24, since his disappearance two weeks ago. Days after he went missing, Al-Jazeera broadcast a videotape showing Hassoun blindfolded along with a statement from militants threatening to kill him unless the United States released all Iraqis in custody.

On Saturday, a website posting claimed Hassoun had been beheaded.

On Sunday, a second web posting on another internet site said he was alive.

But on Monday, Al-Jazeera received a tape from a group calling itself Islamic Response saying he had not been killed and he had been moved to a safe place.

Hassoun's family also offered conflicting accounts about his safety. One brother said Hassoun had been in contact with the family to tell them he was safe. Another brother refused to confirm or deny that claim.

There have also been reports that the U.S. Navy was investigating whether his disappearance may be part of a kidnapping hoax.

The Marines said Hassoun disappeared on "unauthorized leave," but changed his status to "captured" after he turned up June 27 on television, blindfolded, with a sword hanging over his head.

This is one confusing case. How the hell did he end up in Beriut if he was captured in Iraq? I suspect that was indeed an elaborate disertion hoax and he had second thoughts.