Saturday, March 27, 2010

Whereabouts Now Known

I remember this loss. I'm glad he's back:

The Department of Defense announced today an Army civilian employee, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, was Returned to Military Control (RMC) on March 25.

Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., became unaccounted for on Jan. 23, 2010, and subsequently declared Excused Absence Whereabouts Unknown (EAWUN). He was believed to have been kidnapped in Baghdad, where he was assigned to U.S. Forces-Iraq. Salomi’s permanent duty station is Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

The circumstances remain under investigation.

So where was he? And why?

UPDATE: Ah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a Shia extremist group, had held him for the last 14 months. The group claims that they got 4 prisoners released in exchange. The Iraqi government denies that, but the group is one of many that the Iraqi government is trying to negotiate with to stop their activities.

Salomi is coming back home to America. Welcome back.