US contractor Jeffrey Ake held hostage.

Jeffrey Ake is being held hostage in Iraq. Mark Noonan at B4B has some good thoughts about this compared to other hostages taken.

• First off, as this news story indicates, no name of the terrorist group was displayed (it is usual in these things to have such a banner in the video); secondly, no terrorist group has taken responsibility for the act; finally, the demand, given through Mr. Ake reading a statement, is for the United States to "open a dialogue with the Iraqi resistence" to save his life. Open a dialogue? Has anyone ever heard of the terrorists making such a demand before? I haven't. (read all)

He is right. All the others displayed a flag, claimed responsibility, and had many demands of releasing prisoners and the US withdrawal.
Very strange....Indeed.