Human shield Britons quit Baghdad

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | March 2, 2003 | Charlotte Edwardes

[MadIvan]

Almost all of the first British "human shields" to go to Iraq were on their way home last night after deciding that their much-heralded task was now too dangerous.

Two red double-decker buses, which symbolised the hopes of anti-war activists when they arrived to a fanfare of publicity a fortnight ago, slipped quietly out of Baghdad on the long journey back to Britain.

Nine of the original 11 activists decided to pull out after being given an ultimatum by Iraqi officials to station themselves at targets likely to be bombed in a war or leave the country. Among those departing last night was 68-year-old Godfrey Meynell, a former High Sheriff of Derbyshire, who admitted that he was leaving out of "cold fear". He had been summoned, along with 200 other shields from all over the world, to a meeting at a Baghdad hotel yesterday morning.

Abdul Hashimi, the head of the Friendship, Peace and Solidarity organisation that is hosting the protesters, told the shields to choose between nine so-called "strategic sites" by today or quit the country.

The Iraqi warning follows frustration among Saddam Hussein's officials that only about 65 of the shields had so far agreed to take up positions at the oil refineries, power plants and water-purification sites selected by their hosts.

It heightened fears among some peace activists that they could be stationed at non-civilian sites. Mr Meynell and fellow protesters who moved into the power station in south Baghdad last weekend were dismayed to find it stood immediately next to an army base and the strategically crucial main road south to Basra. Iraqi officials said there was little point in guarding what they considered to be low-risk targets.

Iraq's decision to force the pace was welcomed by some of the 20 Britons remaining in Baghdad. "It's only fair," said Uzma Bashir, 32, a college lecturer who is one of the team leaders.

"We've come here as shields to defend sites and now the Iraqis are asking us to make our choice."

[nutmeg]

Too bad it won't get as much publicity as the shields showing u p in the first place.

EXACTLY! If any FReepers hear anything about this human shield wimpout in the media (other than Fox News), please report back on this thread.

[tiki]

Send this to Brit Hume for the end of one of his programs.

This is just too, too funny. Did they think they were going to stand around a nursery school to be a human sheild?

[Kevin Curry]

Did they think they were going to stand around a nursery school to be a human sheild?

Of course. The peace-at-all-costs savants of Hollywood and Liberty Post have assured them that nursery schools are at the top of Bush's target list.

[Walkingfeather]

The joke is Saddam has wired the refineries to blow and I bet the human sheilds are finally seeing who might be the bad guy.

[terilyn]

Thanks for the laugh, this is hilarious!

[garbanzo]

---That's utterly incredible that someone's world view could be so far removed from reality.---

Welcome to the world of liberalism.

[nutmeg]

They were expecting to be treated like the brave and enlightened do-gooders that they have deluded themselves into believing that they are. They were expecting to stay in Iraqi villages and earn the love, respect and awe of the natives, and then go home with stories of their alleged bravery. Instead, they go home as international laughingstocks who make the French look courageous. :D

BINGO! ;-D

[nutmeg]

ROTFLOL ping! ;-D

[strela]

I "leaked" it to several Usenet newsgroups ... I'll also post it to a wretched hive of scum and villainy called "alt.fan.rush-limbaugh." More to come.

[wayne_shrugged]

Well, I guess that shows their true dedication to their "convictions." Sounds like Hollywood "celebrity" mentality to me...

[capitan_refugio]

"Run away! Run Aaa-waaaaay!"

[Balata]

I went to Baghdad as a human shield and all I got was this lousy tee shirt with a target on it.

Bwaahahahaha! Reality sucks.

[goldstategop]

Human shield definition: All talk no action. Your typical yellow belly liberal who's all for it until the heat gets to be too much to stand.

[Tall_Texan]

If their hygiene was as poor and they smelled as bad as the perpetual protesters who camped outside Greenham Common in the 1980s, the Iraqis likely asked them to leave.

Compared to the hygiene and odor of the Iraqis themselves?

[Tall_Texan]

Ivan: There's gotta be a reality TV show in here somewhere.

There's enough material for a feature film, am uproarious comedy of ignorant lefties who accidentally get in the line of fire believeing that they are "standing for peace". Mike Farrell and Martin Sheen can co-star.

But then Hollywood has already done "Dumb and Dumber".

[El Gato]

How do you explain Frenchmen?

Hmm, Frenchwomen I guess. But they do seem to be losing ground, even in their own country, they are breeding, but at levels well below replacement. So are some groups in the US, but not nearly so far below replacment levels as the French in France.

[StoptheDonkey]

I guess they thought they would be human shields inside one of Saddam's deep bunkers. Surprise! You're going to be at prime military targets. LOL!

What military targets ? Oh, you mean the milk factory and TV Station !

[billsux]

can anyone access the Telegraph site right now? I get an error.

[Happygal]

Oh boy!!! YOU JUST MADE MY DAY! *ROFL*