Juba (sniper)

Juba ( _ar. جوبا) (a.k.a. "Joba") is the "nom de guerre" of an alleged sniper involved in the Iraqi Resistance featured in several videos of Iraqi resistance. It was claimed Juba had shot 137 American soldiers in the second video, although this claim is unsupported by evidence.cite web |url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR929648.htm |title=U.S. military probes sniper threat in Baghdad |first=Paul |last=Holmes |publisher=Reuters news service |date=Sunday, October 29, 2006 |accessdate=2008-03-21]

Whether Juba is a real individual is unknown, but the sheer number of attacks claimed and the arrest or capture of at least two people claimed to be Juba suggests he may be a fictional composite of several or more snipers.

Videos

Several video clips which allegedly show the actions of Juba have been circulated over the Internet.

First video

In November 2005, a video which was circulating in Iraq appeared on the Internet. [ [http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1604797 Baghdad Sniper: Myth or Menace?] ABC News, February 10, 2006] The video, attributed to the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), showed United States soldiers being shot and falling to the ground. The video starts with a man saying, "I have nine bullets in this gun and I have a present for George Bush. I am going to kill nine people. I am doing this for the viewers to watch. God is great. God is great." With that, he makes his way from the vehicle, and a series of separate scenes follow showing several individuals shot in action.

econd video

A second "Juba" video was distributed in 2006 in western Baghdad and released on the Internet in late October 2006. The video contained an interview with the supposed commander of the Baghdad sniper division, footage shows numerous fighters being trained in the use of sniper rifles. The video discusses the alleged fear generated in coalition forces by insurgency snipers, and shows "Juba" returning from a sniping mission, marking a tally of 37 on a wall. The sniper then sits down to make a diary entry. The video claims that there are dozens of snipers operating within the IAI and other factions, and shows more being trained. The rest of the video shows numerous clips of U.S. soldiers being sniped with "nasheed" music in the background, and a commander explaining that his men are inspired and trained to an extent based on the information in the book "The Ultimate Sniper" by retired Major and U.S. Army sniper John Plaster.

Third video

In December 2007, "Juba - The Baghdad Sniper 3" was released on the Internet. The production quality of the video was improved from previous Islamic Army in Iraq Juba releases; the video was made available in nine languages.

This video also makes reference to a website that is supposedly connected to the Juba character. cite web |url=http://www.baghdadsniper.net |title=Juba 3 Website. www.Baghdadsniper.net|first=Baghdad Sniper |last=Juba |publisher=Islamic Army in Iraq |date= December 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-09]

References

External links

* Juba Website (Baghdad Sniper Website) (2007) (http://www.baghdadsniper.net). [http://www.baghdadsniper.net] "Islamic Army in Iraq". December, 2007.
* Islamic Army in Iraq official English website http://iaisite-eng.org
* Carroll, Rory (2005). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1542823,00.html Elusive sniper saps U.S. morale in Baghdad] "The Guardian". August 5, 2005.
* [http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52845&archive=true Juba the Sniper Legend haunting troops in Iraq] "Stars and Stripes", April 22, 2007.