Juba: American Medic Shot by Sniper in Iraq Saved His Life

CNN was a hotbed of controversy when it played a video of an American soldier being sniped - something easily accessible on the internet and having received hundreds of thousands of page views. The work was allegedly done by the masked sniper known as Juba, who constantly updated the web with videos of his "victories", using a Dragunov Rifle with a telescopic scope. It was even rumored, shortly before Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death, that he was going to open an insurgent sniper school, so that the city of Baghdad could be surrounded by al-Qaeda snipers.

Juba is very likely not the man's true name - nor is it a single figure. Much like The Princess Bride's Dread Pirate Roberts, it is very possible that the term is simply passed down in the hopes of invoking fear in American and Iraqi troops, as with the constant death of al-Qaeda leaders across Iraq, new figures need to emerge to rally behind for the sake of propaganda. As far as can be told, however, Juba has only been claimed by two Iraqi snipers - neither of which are still haunting the streets of Baghdad.

Most of the sniper's videos that he filled the internet with were crude and basic - totaling what he claimed where 37 confirmed kills, many of the videos appear to cut out before the soldier that the viewer saw getting shot actually stands back up. Indeed, it's been confirmed that most of his alleged victims were barely harmed thanks to American body armor - the same cannot necessarily be said for the targeted Iraqi troops.

Using a hand-held camcorder, two people are always present at the sniping incidents - one alleged driver, and the other Juba himself, who usually chants and prays to Allah before pulling the trigger and making a fast getaway. The videos are almost always set to a form of fundamentalist Islamic music, usually a singing of a Quranic verse, recognizing the interpreted Islamic law forbidding the use of instruments.

One video even showed Juba returning to his hideout, putting aside his rifle, and withdrawing a small notebook so that he could write his pending thoughts in Arabic. The thoughts were not of much interest - just musing how he dreams of driving the Crusaders and Apostates out of his land. Though his wall showed 37 notches carved into it, there's been some controversy on the internet over his actual number of "kills", as, unlike most snipers, he never actually claimed the dog tags from his victims to confirm any of his alleged successes, seriously calling his achievements into doubt. To back up the claim that his successes were marginal at best, most of the videos depict an American soldier's helmet jarring backward, dust flying off of it after he pulls the trigger. While they will almost always fall over, they'll usually stand back up and run for cover behind an object somewhere.

This did not deter Juba, however, as he coordinated his efforts across Baghdad, allegedly using a small van covered in mattresses to muffle the sound of his rifle.

The first Juba made a grievous error on June 2, 2005, however, as he saw what he thought was an easy target. An American medic stood idle, waving people by on occasion. The mujahideen sniper took his aim, squeezed his trigger, and the medic fell over. Proclaiming praise to Allah, his victory was short lived, as the American medic stood back up and discharged his weapon. A brief fight ensued and the driver of the van was detained - the wounded Juba was later caught trying to flee the scene.

In the most amazing turn of events, the medic who had survived Juba's attempts to kill him, then administered first aid that may very well have saved his life.

This was not the only case of a man taking on the name Juba, however - as another man, identified as Ali Nazaar al-Jubouri was also captured, professing himself to be the "sniper of Baghdad" in 2006.

However, since the successful 2007 Baghdad Security "Surge" Plan, no new snipers have attempted to take on the mantle of "Juba."

Sources:

-Stars and Stripes - Juba the Sniper Legend Haunting Troops In Iraq
-Here Now - Juba the Sniper
-Baghdad Treasure - Juba Baghdad Sniper
-Murdoc Online - Original Juba Captured?
-Strategy Page - Baghdad Sniper - Juba