Update: The discussion on this post has been closed and moved to a new thread. Click here to visit the new discussion thread.
Airforce Major Jill Metzger, stationed at Manas Air Base, was shopping in a Kyrgyzstan mall with friends when she disappeared.
From CNN:
(CNN) — A U.S. Air Force officer is missing after a trip to a shopping mall in Kyrgyzstan, a U.S. military statement said Wednesday.
Maj. Jill Metzger, with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, was last seen shopping at the Zum Shopping Center with others from the Manas Air Base when she disappeared on Tuesday, the statement said.
“Major Metzger was last seen wearing a green sweater and blue jeans,” the statement said.
“She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is in excellent athletic condition.”
Military Web sites describe Metzger as a top-flight marathoner.
Both the Kyrgyz police and the US military are searching for her:
BISHKEK, September 6, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry and National Security Service say they have launched a joint operation to locate the U.S. air servicewoman who disappeared on September 5 in Bishkek.
The woman, who has been identified as Major Jill Metzger, is working at the U.S. Manas military air base, near Bishkek.
Manas air base public affairs officer Ann Carpenter told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service that Metzger disappeared while shopping at Bishkek’s main department store (TsUM) with other U.S. base members.
“The [U.S.] 376th Air Expeditionary Wing base officials are working with the U.S. Embassy and local officials to locate the servicemember as soon as possible,” Carpenter added.
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has issued pictures of a blonde woman as part of the search operation.
Let’s hope she’s found quickly.
Update: Maj. Metzger was supposed to return home on Thursday and went to the mall to buy souvenirs for her family.
Update II: We’re thrilled that everyone here is having a great time commenting, but since we’re approaching 1400 comments, we would love it if everyone could continue the thread here.
Update: The discussion on this post has been closed and moved to a new thread. Click here to visit the new discussion thread.
Oh, so what you’re saying is that I should do this, or something similar to it———-
MAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill MetzgerMAJ Jill Metzger Jill Metzger JillMetzger Major MAJ MAJ Jill Metzger “MAJ Jill Metzger” “MAJ Metzger” “Jill Metzger” Jill Metzger Metzger Jill Jill Jill JIll Jill JILL Jill Jill Jill Jill Jill Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Metzger Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Major Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek Kyrgyzstan Kyrgzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan “AF Major” Metzger Jill Metzger
now that’s funny…..
Alright, I e-mailed Dave Miller and Alicia Eaken, the AP and the guy at the Henderson dispatch, anyone else we could e-mail. Come on…we can’t let this story die.
RS: This story is NOT dying…oh no sir reeeeee
We are just hunkering down in our foxholes awaiting return emails or other bits of info. to go on to chapter 2….should be interesting…
Hey, maybe it was an alien abduction – they might like to shop too and liked her American jeans!
it may behoove some to contact Air Force Times since like I said in previous email before stuff got way off topic it said they would have more on this story on the 25th in their next issue…..
These comments are meant for the officers on the list….those on duty as well as those off duty.
I’ve seen a good bit of comments that disparage military officers on this blog. In case you’re wondering I’ve been on here since the day Jill was “located”…..I’ve remained silent up until now.
We all took and oath of office. We all signed up to be bound by the UCMJ. For her assumed indiscretions we all feel like Jill has violated a great many of those articles. Let’s talk about some other ones for a few minutes though. Before you post back though I actually want you to read the references and think about your own actions on this blog. You may not be quilty of anything, but there is some serious pushing of the line going on. Anonymity does not mean that you can throw the UCMJ out the window. Pointing to someone that has done something “more wrong” than what you are doing does not make you “right”. Pointing out past instances of wrongs does not mean that this one should be treated the same way. In the case of the previous examples mentioned: Enron & Tailhook to name a few, the discovery and investigation into those matters was publicly pursued by non-military members. Naturally Enron had nothing to do with the military, but Tailhook did and it was the media and congress that took up the fight, not the military. If congress needs to get involved in this then I’m sure they will. Someone on here can write their congressman and talk to them as much as they want regarding all of the “theories” and the need for “facts”.
Some articles that some of you may want to reinvestigate. Decide for yourself if your actions would look good on your next performance report.
Article 89 – Disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm89.htm
Article 133—Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm133.htm — Specifically read #3 at the bottom (Jill is still an officer)
Of course if you’re looking for the list of what Jill most likely did, it’s going to be a lot longer than what’s above. It still doesn’t justify violating the articles yourself. There are right ways and wrong ways to approach something like this. I’m sure the civilians on this list are more than capable of pushing this matter in the press.
Consider an e-mail here:
info@ap.org
This the general e-mail address for Associated Press reporters. Direct your e-mail to Leila Saralayeva. She is a reporter in Bishkek who covered the MAJ Metzger story, and her articles were printed by a number of the major US newspapers. Perhaps some encouragement that the story still holds interest in the US would motivate her.
I think OIG has a good point. Those of us who are various colors of Reserve (active/inactive/sort of active/active when called/inactive when called/IMA/etc) or Retired wear two hats: civilian and military officer. I don’t really know how far the UCMJ can affect a Reserve officer not on orders or scheduled duty; probably not very far. But it’s important to keep in mind the points OIG makes.
VR: You’re correct….you’re definitely not subject if you’re in the inactive reserves (unless training). For more details see the section that describes who is subject:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/l/blucmj2.htm
OIG: This is a blog, a blog, a blog…..not a military web-site. We are stating facts, theories, opinions, and having some HUMOR with this. Lighten up….Funny, you are on here too making statements that you know she lied and so on….why the preaching AGAINST those simply blogging???
OIG: You have no authority to come onto a “blog” area, unofficial area, and preach as to our wrong or right doings…Perhaps you should call Jill and do that…..
Jill, or anyone, who commits an action as this, deserves a very less amount, if any, of respect given the oath and conduct she pledged to take, yet faltered in. I wish her nothing but healing, but an Officer in high regard is not what I would personally call her…..again, the entire world is talking about this, INCLUDING YOU – you are still on here as well…..if your goal or object is to preach of those faltering in talking about Jill, then you have a large amount of blog sites to hit and newspapers, and military bases and civilian offices, etc….
VR: You’re kidding me right? OIG states to read and think about our own actions on a blog – hello, VRRRRR, oh no, you’re in a trance, reading a note (er blog) and following instructions! My gosh, maybe Jill was not lying after all…..
OIG: If you want to post theories or thoughts is one thing, but posting about being wrong or right on a blog is well, pathetic……
Deb G: I don’t think that making the statements on a blog in any way releases anyone subject to the UCMJ. As for my statements, I’m no longer subject to the UCMJ so I can say whatever my personal integrity/morals/judgement will allow me to say. I wanted to merely point out for the group that this is a VERY public forum and that by violating the UCMJ in a public manner you put yourself in a category that is no likely much better than where Jill herself is right now….and by that I mean the category of knowingly violating the UCMJ.
Not sure if you read them, but most of those articles that I mentioned in the post are punishable by dishonorable discharge or worse.
Don’t read this the wrong way, I’m not saying that YOU or anyone else here has done that, I just wanted to remind everyone (wearing a uniform) where the line was so that nobody’s brain to mouth (err: keyboard) filter failed to engage before they said something stupid.
Deb G: Point out the section in the UCMJ that allows for public statement and conduct to be acceptable on a blog? I’m pretty sure you won’t find it…..in fact I would have to say that given the google rankings for this site it’s more likely that you could argue that items posted in here are public speach.
If you’re active duty call your JAG and see if they would disagree with me.
My points on the military members of this blog have nothing to do with what Jill did or didn’t or should have or shouldn’t have done. They are about what military members subject to the UCMJ should and shouldn’t do.
I’m sure that the “but Jill screwed up worse and made me do it” wouldn’t go too well in an article 15 appeal.
OIG: Did you just compare Jill Metzger’s international fake abduction story put our country on the line, beaten up and hair dyed with blogging???????????? Ya know, I have a good friend in JAG at Bragg and she and her cohorts were on this same site – like the rest of the world is searching blogs and for info. and news sites….you really need to find something better to do….and comparing any of us blogging in here to what Jill Metzger just did is REALLY PATHETIC……please focus your comments and preachings to another blog site….Jill lost her level of respect from others to not talk about her………yawnnnn
To OIG:
Army case in 03 in Fairbanks (Wainwright). CW3 was sleeping with several married (enlisted)soldiers in his chain while at Cohort training at Huachuca. He made it known that it would be hard for him to send them into “danger’ if they were involved. Several E3 and E4 wound up on the Army ‘s**t list – Extra duty, loss of pay, worst details, permanent gate duty, etc… for sticking the COHORE tag on him and ‘spreading’ rumors. Turned out to be true and Art 15 was convened. Didn’t help the enlisted though. Still got screwed for speaking out of school…
Doesn’t mean you can’t speculate, investigate, or discuss, just have to use PC language if IG, CID, JAG, etc is watching/listening….
Drive On!!!
OIG (and anyone else who is interested)
I am quite impressed with your post.
Consider this. I know that things in the military are difficult. The ‘job’ calls for a level of dedication, commitment, and a ‘code’ of honor which is rarely seen or experienced in any other segment of society, regardless of the culture. Long hours, difficult assignments, deployments, etc.
There is no other ‘business’ that calls for the sacrifice of ones life for the greater cause. However, having personally witnessed circumstances or situations which called for the implementation or execution of these high standards, I can say that I am, putting it mildly, disappointed and discouraged.
When the military, specifically the officer ranks, starts to ‘police’ their own, perhaps I will be more inclined to change my view on this. But, for now, I can’t.
The only place where this inequality is meted out with fairness is on the battle field. There, the weapons of destruction do not discriminate with regard to status nor rank. The honorable as well as the not so honorable can meet the same end with the same projectile simultaneously.
However, in times of peace, in garrison, and on the battle field, senior officers have been known to protect their own. I know, I’ve witnessed it. With regard to this particular situation, it appears that Major Metzger has displayed her ‘bad girl’ side on more than one occasion. The consequences? Up the ladder. Instead of dealing with the problem at the outset, she was allowed to conduct herself with her, albeit not habitual, questionable or bad conduct. Superiors and peers alike should have impugned her. They didn’t.
I stated this before… Her past is what got her here. This is not something an officer with any degree of respect for her position, or rank, would have allowed. This was not ‘an accident’. Perhaps, just perhaps, in the final analysis it will be deemed as such. If it is, I will continue to have my reservations about the ability of the Officer Corps to police itself. Nevertheless, for you to censure military people here is, in my opinion, hypocritical. You should direct your comments at the military side, and if need be, write YOUR congressman, to let your voice be heard. For until the practice of enforcing the CODE begins, the very existence of it is at best a formality. A toothless tiger, if you will.
I leave you with but one question. If this person were your superior, would you have the moral courage to put her on report, or would job security, career, and ‘membership’, cause you to reconsider? You don’t need to answer that publicly… you can answer it tomorrow – while you’re shaving.
—————————————-
Douglas MacArthur
Last, but by no means least, courage—moral courage, the courage of one’s convictions, the courage to see things through. The world ; is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It’s the age-old struggle–the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your; conscience on the other.
——————————————–
bout’ time guys – where have you been? Was starting to take out a new steel sword and kevlar….
Wiz: I heard you were killed by a Whopper????
From OIG: If you’re active duty call your JAG and see if they would disagree with me.
Ring…ring…
OIG: Do not technically disagree with you–military memebers are subject to jurisdiction of the UCMJ wherever they might roam.
Deb G: Are you angry from guilt or did I just strike a nerve for another reason?
Anyone will be able to find an infinite number of other instances where others were wrong.
To borrow from another anology what matters is when you look in the mirror. Having put others on report (including one that I worked for) I can honestly say that I’ve put my personal comfort above aside to do what was right and just.
What’s going on here isn’t entirely about finding out the truth or getting justice. Somewhere along the line it turned into let’s bash Jill and the establishment that’s limiting the access to information.
OIG….
While you are shaving… think on these things:
In any avalanche, no single snowflake feels responsible. — Voltaire
Start doing the things you think should be done, and start being what you think society should become. Do you believe in free speech? Then speak freely. Do you love the truth? Then tell it. Do you believe in an open society? Then act in the open. Do you believe in a decent and humane society? Then behave decently and humanely.
Adam Michnik
Heard it was a ‘guillotine’ move and a straw that got Wiz.
Maybe he was just in a blog induced trance..
—-snip——-
Start doing the things you think should be done, and start being what you think society should become. Do you believe in free speech? Then speak freely. Do you love the truth? Then tell it. Do you believe in an open society? Then act in the open. Do you believe in a decent and humane society? Then behave decently and humanely.
—-snip——-
That argument sort of falls to pieces for those without morals…….
The anonymity on this blog is not guaranteed. It wouldn’t take much for someone to find out who is posting what, if they really wanted to know. As long as you would be comfortable having your real name (and rank, if it pertains to you) asociated with what you’re posting, I don’t see a problem. If you wouldn’t say in public what you’re saying here, I would be careful. For example, DebG, your big threat to the wacko who posted the “kill/rape/torture” message to you was to EXPOSE his real name. If that’s a threat to anyone posting things here, I’d reconsider posting.
OIG: LMAO. Angry? Never. Not in my character. I do, however, find you annoying. OIG, have you ever heard of an internet troll? Look it up – you fall into that category. I see the more attention you get in this umm BLOG room fills your need for well, attention, thus, provoking you to post more AGAINST the posters in here. Look up hypocrit in the dictionary – you fall in that category as well. Funny, I was starting to feel you were ANGRY. You feel the need to come in this area and preach – are you angry about something??????
OIG: If you are looking for morals – you are NOT going to find it in any story of BLOG regarding Jill Metzger. Unless you are living under a rock, you would know that the entire world has humor and fun with almost every international situation – have you ever watched Saturday Night Live – good grief – put them on your list to preach morals to. MANY folks are already making up jokes about Jill, including lots of military on a daily basis, human nature really. If you do something really really stupid, people tend to make fun of it…..just human nature……noone is bashing here, I am pretty sure we could all pretty much care less about Jill Metzger – it is the deceit, the lies and the coverup that amazes us……and oh yes, the FUN of trying to put together the puzzle of who really did it – kind of like the game CLUE – have you ever played it????yes, I thought so….
Deb G: I’m not posting “against” anyone, and that includes you. I’m posting for officers to maintain the integrity of their actions regardless of the fact that they’re in a blog talking about what someone else has done wrong.
As for my need for attention? No, I just know that everyone here is getting a lot of attention, some of it I fear for the wrong reasons.
Besides, if we went back to Sep 10th you were getting a LOT of negative feedback from the blog members. Are you just trying to make sure that I go through the same now?
As for preaching……there’s something to be said for doing your part to keep honest people honest….take it for what you will.
OIG:
Any moral argument falls apart when faced with a lack of morals, that isn’t news.
I think the point here is that holding up a ‘code of conduct’ to the world and then using that code of conduct to avoid discussion when said code of conduct has been allegedly violated (this hasn’t been proven yet)doesn’t sit well with most.
I am off to catch some sleep. Was hoping to have a good theory session tonight. However, I refuse to feed the troll its attention treats. This blog is called “Where is Jill Metzger” let’s see: made for theories, speculations, piecing the puzzle. It is not called “Save Jill Metzger’s character” or “Careful of what you say while entering this site to talk about Jill Metzger”…..
OIG: I think you would rather find negative amongst those around you, rather than anything positive from what people have to say and oddly enough, I have a pretty good feeling that you are NOT a team player…..you have offered nothing to this blog, why did you even come in here?
OIG…
I am humbled by your presence…
I’ll let you in on a little secret ….. if you promise not to tell anyone!!!
This is not a meeting place of the perfect..
But, if you will point out my IMMORAL behavior, I will be indebted to you.
OIG: Before I go, it is NOT your authority to post to anyone about their actions, none of your business really. You are obviously taking this on a personal level stating your fear is _______________ Fear? How can you fear anything coming from a blog site? Who cares about any reasons of attention on this site. I am not trying to put you through anything. You are doing that all on your own as well as preaching to others about their blog posts. It truly is not anyone’s business to come on here and post against bloggers. This is an open forum. As far as negative feedback on September 10th. I was giving theories and playing a bit, which at that time, there were others in the room who were obviously not on the same wavelength as I. Not a big deal to me, it certainly does not affect my life for one minute, whether sitting here or walking away. I enjoy the thought processes in here and gathering info. It is actually a lot of fun at times, however, when someone as yourself comes in here preaching about what others should and should not be doing (which is none of your business anyway) then well, it is no more fun….
Wiz: You are right on. Noone in here claims to be perfect. Heck, it is not about us to begin with. If we were the ones who had done something immoral well then the blog might be set up for us “Where is Deb G.” sort of thing. So, if someone wants to preach about Officers not following the code of conduct, I think you should grab the phone book and go to Jill Metzger’s house…..
Deb G said: OIG: I think you would rather find negative amongst those around you, rather than anything positive from what people have to say and oddly enough, I have a pretty good feeling that you are NOT a team player…..you have offered nothing to this blog, why did you even come in here?
Actually I would rather see the good around me. As for team player if you mean “your team” probably not. As for offering nothing you seem to be the only person who is completely offended by my posts.
As for why I came here? I liked reading the theories. I do not feel that the theories are a violation of the UCMJ…..perhaps I should have made that more clear earlier. Correctly stated as theories and not “personal attacks” they add to the discussion and the “levity” of the situation. I’m sorry that you feel that good conduct has to be mutually exclusive with having a good time. I think that you can do both.
Having said that, here’s a “theory” for you…..it’s out there, but I haven’t seen it here so I’m going to post it.
Jill goes off-base to get her abortion in a less than reputable place b/c she doesn’t want to be seen by anyone. While there she mentions that she’s in a hurry b/c she’s AWOL (maybe not in those words) and that nobody’s knows she’s there. She has to be put under for the abortion (I assume that’s the case) at which time the less than reputable medical staff (three men and a lady) kidnap her.
If this were the the rest could be true and she would just need to make up the “how did I get there” part without giving up the fact that she had an abortion.
Just a theory…..
OIG…
I kinda think I struck a chord there.. but that’s ok. Don’t let it bother you.. Just think about it (while you’re shaving).. It’s a tough call, I know because I have had to do it. And, it wasn’t without cost. Trust me. Reporting one of “your own” opens up a whole new dimension to the world of work.
OIG: hadn’t thought about that one. I just don’t think, though, kidnapping is a spur-of-the-moment crime, particularly not if it involves more than one perp. How on earth could a female and three males all collude to kidnap someone on a spur of the moment? (“OK Boris, she’s out. Let’s kidnap her.” “Good idea, Yuri, but let’s get Ivan over here too. And Leila.”) And what would 2 other males be doing in a medical clinic helping with an abortion? I’d be willing to bet the non-MD staff is all female at the medical clinic in Kant.
But the theory that something bad might have really happened to her is a good one, and she just made up a really bad story to cover for how she got into the mess in the first place. I could imagine a very bad taxi driver who was supposed to take her back to the base, for example. Maybe she was just robbed and thrown to the side of the road. One bad guy for a spur-of-the-moment crime I can see; not 4.
OIG…
Hadn’t thought about that one… but probably because I’ve lived among the ‘natives’ out there in Kyrgyzstan. They are not that kind of people.. ESPECIALLY when it comes to Military. A person who is working with one of the humanitarian, or foreign companies would be more likely of a target for something like that. But that’s just my take on it.. I’m sure that Gogi or Kuba can chime in on it. Highly doubt it.
People there are actually very kind. They may stoop to charging more than they should .. or petty theft, but that’s about it.
Agree with your assessment VR..
All along I have stated that Kidnapping/Abduction takes PLANNING… High profile kidnapping (targeted) takes lots of planning.
VR…
Looks like people are tired of our brand of coffee. I told you to get Starbucks!!!
Theory: she accomplishes her personal covert mission, whatever it was. She hails a cab to get back to the mall, or back to the base. The cab-driver is a really bad guy, drives her to Kant, roughs her up in bad ways (she IS only 5’1″), holds her for a few days, makes her do the weird stuff to her hair, steals her cellphone and all of her stuff in that big bag, leaves her naked on the side of the road. (Or perhaps she does manage to escape somehow.) She runs for help, grabbing someone else’s clothes off a clothesline as she goes (that’s where the 2-sizes-2-big clothes come in). Makes it to the farmhouse in Kant. Feet are bleeding because she has been running without shoes. She is completely panicky, upset, knows that the AF is looking for her. Doesn’t want to admit to the initial personal covert mission, so she tells a story that is really sort of true in her deranged, panicky mind in hopes that they’ll overlook the AWOL part and focus on the victim part.
I wasn’t serious about the three men and one woman….just pulling that from the “story” that Jill gave. This would have been possible by one person if done with some pre-meditation. It’s also possible that if she was seeking a discrett abortion that Jill would have gone to a single person. In that situation it would be very easy to kidnap someone.
As for whether or not people are capable of it? I would like to believe that entire societies are essentially “good”, but I’m not aware of any countries without prison’s so I’m guessing not. If Natalie Holloway can disappear in aruba doing something stupid then I’m sure it could happen to Jill in KG.
Again, it’s all just a “theory”.
VR: We’re thinking along the same lines….which might make both of us wrong in our theory. Time will tell I’m sure.
…and if she was sexually victimized, the AF is not exactly going to come bursting forth with this information. She would also probably be granted a whole lot of leeway for her bizarre story; she could just say she was so traumatized she didn’t know what she was saying. Not that I’d believe that, but she could probably get away with it. It might also explain why she didn’t want her new husband to see her in Germany, if she felt shamed at her victimization.
OIG….
IF… and I stress the IF…. she had been picked up at dark then, I ‘could’ be willing to accept the taxi driver gone bad thing.. AND it has happened to women in the city. On more than one occasion I took offered to pay cab fare for a lady.. but ended up having to take her home then returning in the cab. IT HAS happened.
Daylight hours.. never heard of it.
Again… I am going on personal experience… IF two planes can hit the Twin Towers in broad daylight.. then I suppose that anything is possible.
Okay, so if we use Occam’s razor (for those of you who’s never heard of it):
————————–
Occam’s razor (also spelled Ockham’s razor) is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham (Guilhelmi Ockam and Guillermi de ockam in Latin [1]). Originally a tenet of the reductionist philosophy of nominalism, it is more often taken today as a heuristic maxim that advises economy, parsimony, or simplicity in scientific theories.
Occam’s razor states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating, or “shaving off,” those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory. In short, when given two equally valid explanations for a phenomenon, one should embrace the less complicated formulation. The principle is often expressed in Latin as the lex parsimoniae (law of succinctness):
entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem,
which translates to:
entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity.
Furthermore, when multiple competing theories have equal predictive powers, the principle recommends selecting those that introduce the fewest assumptions and postulate the fewest hypothetical entities. It is in this sense that Occam’s razor is usually understood.
———————————–
So the basic theory that we’re bouncing around now assumes that she left the group at the mall for a personal reason that she did not want to disclose.
She may have told members of the MWR group, she may not have….doesn’t matter to the outcome.
While on the “side trip” something went wrong and she was abducted/sexually assulted.
That’s two assumptions and if I’m not mistaken everything else we know would fall into line with those.
Depending on the reasons for the side trip it explains why the hubby was PNG in Germany. Why her family likely knew what was going on when they were interviewed. Why the US Embassy was so quick to get her out of KG when she was found. Why the AF is not protecting her privacy.
As for the haircut that all happened after the fact. I’m SURE that they could have brought someone to the hospital to take care of that for her.
What am I missing?
Okay, this UCMJ banter has gotten way out of control. This is free speech and it’s on a privately owned board. Just because people (to include uniformed members) can post to it does not constitute it as a “public forum”. No member of the law enforcement or intelligence community would touch this with a ten-foot-pole. Aside from the fact that it would take way to many man/woman hours to track down someone through an anonymous blog, they would have no probable cause to search it for “criminal activity; unless of course it was to get a good laugh.
If you’re not (or are no longer) a member of the Armed Forces, don’t preach Articles of the UCMJ. These people are entitled to their opinions, read and enjoy or STFU.
Buster: It doesn’t matter if the board is privately owned. It’s easily available to anyone in the public and is therefore considered public speech. Also, free speech is not something that is an absolute right of those serving in the military. The military is there to protect democracy, not practice it….to protect inalienable rights such as free speech, not to practice it.
I believe the saying we used was “I may not agree with that you have to say, but I’ll die to defend your right to say it”.
You’re right I don’t think that anyone in the JAG or IG communities would touch this blog with a ten foot pole. It’s the type of thing that could come back to bite someone though when they go up for promotion if it’s found out that they were out of line at some point in the past.
This is a little bit off-topic, but think of the political appointees that have been pushed aside for doing a lot less than what I’m discussing here.
OIG, VR: I fully agree with the reasoning. This makes the most sense and assumes the least. It also matches with much of what she herself said. Most people will make up stories interwoven with actual experiences to minimize the lying factor.
…if there was a sexual assault, it would also explain the terseness and lack of joy visible on the faces of her husband and his dad when they were interviewed after she had been found, and after Josh had had a phone conversation with her. And her plea for “privacy” for mental and physical healing.
But to counter this theory, seems like if she REALLY WAS kidnapped and assaulted, the USAF would have encouraged her participation with the Kyrgyz police, who would be in the best position to catch the bad guy(s). Seems like the AF whisked her away really quickly.
If they wisked her away for medical treatment though then that’s reasonable and would be expected.
VR: … unless there was a connection to the Russian Base in this, and we didn’t want to risk an international incident.
As to the hair: having her dye her own blond hair black could have been another form of assault.