AWOL Army sergeant arrested as deserter

WELLINGTON - An Army sergeant who disappeared from his Georgia post six months ago was tracked down at his parents' home after a notebook with anti-American and anti-Semitic writings was found in his discarded backpack.

Karim Iraq, 25, was arrested as a deserter and is being held without bail in Palm Beach County, sheriff's officials said.

His father said Iraq fled Fort Stewart after the Army extended his enlistment. He had soured on the U.S. military mission in Iraq and had been harassed over his Palestinian heritage, Zayed Iraq said.

Karim Iraq was arrested Tuesday, a day after the backpack was found at a gas station a few miles from his parents' home in this West Palm Beach suburb. The father said the bag was probably left there by someone who broke into his son's truck days earlier.

Authorities said a notebook in the backpack contained handwritten notes cursing the military, freedom and the United States. A message reading "Die you know who you are!!!" appears with an image of the Star of David in a circle with a line through it.

[Last modified May 6, 2005, 00:37:10]