Now we should get some answers. From ABCNews, with thanks to Bob:
July 8, 2004 “” A U.S. Marine missing from Iraq for more than two weeks is safe and being questioned at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, ABC News has learned. …
U.S. military officials have said the Lebanese-born Hassoun disappeared June 20 from Iraq on “unauthorized leave,” but changed his status to “captured” after he turned up on Arab television blindfolded with a sword hanging over his head.
On Saturday, a statement posted on an Islamist Web site said Hassoun had been beheaded in Iraq. But a day later, another Web statement declared the Marine had not been killed after he promised not to rejoin the U.S. military. …
U.S. military officials say they are investigating his disappearance amid suspicions of a possible hoax.