Terrorists' Deadline Approaches June 17, 2004 — Friday is supposed to be the end of the terrorists' 72 hour deadline in the life and death drama of Paul Johnson. Many of his friends, his family, and Ocean County neighbors came out to pray for his well-being. It was a gathering reminiscent of the post 9-11 vigils that we saw across the area. Several hundred people were waving American flags in West Creek to show support from native Paul Johnson and his family. As they struggle to hold on with that deadline set by his captors, it's coming to an end. Several hundred people, many with their children and grandchildren braved a muggy, steamy field swarming with mosquitoes to sing and pray for Paul Johnson's safe return. With yellow ribbons and people holding little American flags, a number of pastors and chaplain from across Ocean County urged the crowd not to lose hope, not to feel helpless, but to pray. Earlier in the day, a letter appeared on several Islamic websites from someone who identified himself as a Saudi friend of Johnson. The friend said he bestowed his protection as a Muslim on the American hostage. If Johnson is harmed, the letter reads "I will never forgive you, I will curse you in my prayers." Meanwhile, Johnson's relatives he is not the man that his captors make him out to be. With the deadline for his killing fast approaching, his uncle who helped raise him as a son is finding it difficult to hold on. While most family stayed away from the vigil, Johnson's niece and his son's wife, Jody, did appear to thank the crowd. And so tonight, the Johnson's and their relatives are finding that they are not alone. That entire community is here supporting them, praying for Paul Johnson's safe return against all odds. Dann Cuellar, Channel 6 Action News. Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. --------------------------------------------------- +
I hope the best for him.... ... but he's a dead man. the worst part of it is - he's gonna die a very gruesome death, and it's gonna be broadcast around the world. It seems to be the latest terrorist trend. Those heartless SOB's need to burn, and America isn't making 'em pay like we should. -- droxford
Why is being pissed off about people killing our own unnecessary?? When I read the story I thought the same thing as drox and it pisses me off.
I was reading over at Yahoo! an article that interviewed a Saudi where this person stated all Saudis hate Americans so they wouldn't tell where Paul Johnson is even if they knew. I don't think he has but a very slim chance if he's not gone already and only if the Saudi government finds him before he is murdered.
The post asks for prayers, that we hope for the best. I don't think it is the right time or place to lock on to the fact that he is "a dead man" and will "die a gruesome death". God forbid it happens, it can be expressed at a more appropriate time.
Good point. I shoulda saved such negative comments for a different thread - perhaps in D&D. My apologies. I certainly hope the best for him and his family. -- droxford
It is too late, unfortuntely they have beheaded Paul Johnson. This is the saddest thing .... I dont see it stopping either anytime soon.
Here's a Yahoo link to the story. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...18/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_kidnapped_american_33 By SALAH NASRAWI, Associated Press Writer RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - An al-Qaida group said Friday it killed American hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr., posting an Internet message that showed three photographs of a severed head that appeared to be his. The message, in the name of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, appeared as a 72-hour deadline set by the group ended. Less than an hour after the announcement, an Arab satellite television network said Johnson's body had been found. According to the al-Qaida group, "In answer to what we promised ... to kill the hostage Paul Marshall (Johnson) after the period is over ... the infidel got his fair treatment," the statement said. "Let him taste something of what Muslims have long tasted from Apache helicopter fire and missiles," the statement said. Johnson, 49, who worked on Apache attack helicopter systems for Lockheed Martin, was kidnapped last weekend by militants who threatened to kill him by Friday if the kingdom did not release its al-Qaida prisoners. The Saudi government rejected the demands. As the deadline approached, Saudi security forces launched an all-out search, going door-to-door in some Riyadh neighborhoods, as Johnson's wife went on Arab television Friday pleading for his release. After Johnson's death was reported, his family was in seclusion at a town house in Galloway Township, N.J., where they have been holding a vigil. A man standing in front of the house identified himself only as "Bill" and said the family did not want to talk to reporters. One of the three photographs posted on the Web site showed a man's head, face toward the camera, being held by a hand. The other two showed a beheaded body lying prone on a bed, with the severed head placed in the small of his back, the clothes underneath bloodied. The face looked like Johnson's. The beheaded body was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, similar to those issued to suspected Islamic militants imprisoned by the United States at Guantanamo Bay — and similar to the suit another American captive, Nicholas Berg, was wearing when he was beheaded in Iraq (news - web sites) last month by another group of Islamic militants inspired by al-Qaida. "To the Americans and whoever is their ally in the infidel and criminal world and their allies in the war against Islam, this action is punishment to them and a lesson for them to know that whoever steps foot in our country, this decisive action will be his fate," the statement said. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh had no immediate comment. "We are working on verification," the spokesperson said. Spokespersons for the CIA (news - web sites) and State Department in Washington also said they could not confirm the reports of Johnson's death. A Saudi senior security official, reached by The Associated Press, said: "We have so far nothing on this." Soon after the statement appeared, the Web site was inaccessible, with a message saying it was closed for maintenance. Johnson was the latest victim of an escalating campaign targeting Westerners that Saudi and U.S. officials say aims to drive foreign workers from the kingdom and undermine the ruling royal family, hated by al-Qaida. Johnson was seized on June 12, the same day that Islamic militants shot and killed American Kenneth Scroggs, from Laconia, N.H., in his garage. Scroggs worked for Advanced Electronics Co., a Saudi firm whose Web site lists Lockheed Martin among its customers. The office number on Johnson's business card was for Advanced Electronics. The same week as Scroggs' death, another American and an Irish citizen were also shot and killed in Riyadh. Johnson's death was the second beheading displayed on the Internet by militants with grisly images. Berg, a businessman, was beheaded in Iraq, and his last moments later appeared on a videotape posted on an al-Qaida-linked Web site. His body was found on May 12. U.S. officials say al-Qaida-linked Muslim militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have been Berg's killer. A senior Saudi official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government did not yet have any independent confirmation of Johnson's death. "There is no body, and we know of no videotape," said the official. Reached by phone at the Bethesda, Md. headquarters of Lockheed Martin Corp., a spokesman said the company had "no official notification on the status of Paul Johnson." "But obviously we hope that the media reports people are seeing are not true," spokesman Jeff Adams said. A message posted on the defense contractor's Web site reads "Our thoughts and prayers are with Paul M. Johnson Jr. and his family," but a notation on the message refers to it as "Employee Kidnapped."
Good ****ing God This makes me angry as ****. And to think some people think if America stays out of it everything will be Dandy as ****ing Candyland. I hope someone tracks down these sons of b****es and force feeds them razor blades.
