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."

[friendly]

Socialist scum are noted for their colourful underwear: Yellow in front, brown in the rear.

[ewing]

More like 'Run for your lives..' panty sheilds when danger is near

[demnomo]

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...

[syriacus]

Does this mean the romance is over between Saddam and the DESERTing SHIELDS?

[bvw]

There's some hope for their eventual return to sanity!

[demnomo]

Ooops! I meant to state that there are at least sixty-five Darwin Award nominees, not twenty!

[jraven]

WHAT??? You mean it's DANGEROUS being a human sheild! I never figured that one out!

[JavaTheHutt]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love it. Thank you for this excellent post.

[ewing]

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..

[EggsAckley]

Delicious!!! Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

[Hoverbug]

I hope Dan Blather missed the bus!

[Overtaxed]

When danger reared its ugly head
They bravely turned their tails and fled.

[demkicker]

"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....

[Reagan is King]

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!

[Experiment 6-2-6]

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."

[ewing]

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

[BunnySlippers]

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)

[savedbygrace]

We eagerly await the coming news conference in which these mental giants claim victory.

[EggsAckley]

Let's be sure to keep this

BUMPED TO THE TOP

[Miss Marple]

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.