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Human shield Britons quit Baghdad
The Sunday Telegraph ^ | March 2, 2003 | Charlotte Edwardes

Posted on 03/01/2003 4:24:50 PM PST by 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."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: baghdadorbust; bravelyranaway; chickens; coldfear; deployorleave; humanshields; iraq; makeyourtime; oncetwicetraitors; saddam; saddamszeros; setusupthebomb; targets; toodangerous; war; welcometoclubsaddam; youwantustodowhat
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To: MadIvan
Socialist scum are noted for their colourful underwear: Yellow in front, brown in the rear.
21 posted on 03/01/2003 4:33:16 PM PST by friendly
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To: Bob Mc
More like 'Run for your lives..' panty sheilds when danger is near
22 posted on 03/01/2003 4:33:26 PM PST by ewing
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To: ewing
I feel like I am being cheated out of some Darwin Award finalists here-and (gasp!) Saddam wants them to go near battle targets

No need to feel cheated. There are at least twenty of the useful idiots left who are more than willing to be nominated...

23 posted on 03/01/2003 4:33:27 PM PST by demnomo
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To: MadIvan
Does this mean the romance is over between Saddam and the DESERTing SHIELDS?
24 posted on 03/01/2003 4:33:42 PM PST by syriacus (Saddam's fundraiser. Charge inspectors + shields $5 each to use sledgehammers on the missiles)
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To: MadIvan
There's some hope for their eventual return to sanity!
25 posted on 03/01/2003 4:34:42 PM PST by bvw
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To: ewing
Ooops! I meant to state that there are at least sixty-five Darwin Award nominees, not twenty!
26 posted on 03/01/2003 4:34:49 PM PST by demnomo
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To: syriacus
WHAT??? You mean it's DANGEROUS being a human sheild! I never figured that one out!
27 posted on 03/01/2003 4:35:12 PM PST by jraven
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To: MadIvan

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh, it hurts. Tears streaming down my face, sides aching, must stop laughing!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love it. Thank you for this excellent post.
28 posted on 03/01/2003 4:35:28 PM PST by JavaTheHutt
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To: demnomo
The other 20 have already said as of yesterday that they are running for the hills when war is declared.

How they will get out, I don't know but they seemed convinced that their job is not to die at their post.

Well, they started with 80 in London and are now down to 20..

29 posted on 03/01/2003 4:35:43 PM PST by ewing
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To: MadIvan
Delicious!!! Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.
30 posted on 03/01/2003 4:36:04 PM PST by EggsAckley (nuke the vegan gay whales for jesus)
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To: MadIvan
I hope Dan Blather missed the bus!
31 posted on 03/01/2003 4:36:12 PM PST by Hoverbug (whadda ya mean, "we don't get parachutes"!?!)
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To: MadIvan
When danger reared its ugly head
They bravely turned their tails and fled.
32 posted on 03/01/2003 4:36:46 PM PST by Overtaxed
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To: ewing; Blood of Tyrants
"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."

Looks like there will definitely be an addition of 65 to the Darwin Awards. These bozos really think they'll be "shielding" oil refineries, power plants and water-purification sites. Geeze....
33 posted on 03/01/2003 4:37:48 PM PST by demkicker (I wanna kick some commie butt)
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To: MadIvan
Thanks MadIvan, that's hilarious. The little pansies know the U.S. firepower is coming and we don't care if they're there or not.

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!
34 posted on 03/01/2003 4:38:13 PM PST by Reagan is King (Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever)
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To: MadIvan; NorCoGOP; Congressman Billybob; Sparta; Tennessee_Bob; GOPyouth; mhking; Terriergal; ...
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.

THIS IS PRICELESS! Better than Monty Python and Holy Grail! Especially the "tis a fair cop" line by the "alleged" witch as she's being carried off to be burned. Pago Pago Ping! "We've come here as shields to defend sites and now the Iraqis are asking us to make our choice."

35 posted on 03/01/2003 4:38:24 PM PST by Experiment 6-2-6 (Meega, Nala Kweesta!!!!)
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To: demnomo
I think they are counting the people from all over the world in the '60' number.

I can't wait for all of the whining and hollering once fighting is about to start and they are peeing their pants wanting to get home

36 posted on 03/01/2003 4:38:31 PM PST by ewing
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To: MadIvan

Godfrey Meynell, 68, left, from England, joins other human shield peace activists inside the South Baghdad Power Plant where they say they will remain until the threat of war is averted in Baghdad on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. Fifteen human shields from different countries reached Baghdad Sunday aboard two red double decker London buses. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

37 posted on 03/01/2003 4:38:42 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: MadIvan
We eagerly await the coming news conference in which these mental giants claim victory.
38 posted on 03/01/2003 4:39:04 PM PST by savedbygrace
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To: MadIvan
Let's be sure to keep this

BUMPED TO THE TOP

39 posted on 03/01/2003 4:39:16 PM PST by EggsAckley (nuke the vegan tree-hugging gay whales for jesus)
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To: Dog
What I want to know is if O'Keefe's mother has left. (He is the ex-Marine with the teardrops tatooed on his face.)

I think he has her there in order to get his inheritance early.

40 posted on 03/01/2003 4:39:26 PM PST by Miss Marple
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