[piasa]

Iraq is so corrupt that when their prisons are overflowing- or whenever Hussein had a hankering for it- prisoners are simply culled down to the desired number through arbitrary executions. From what I understand, the prison guards are known to go about town finding the relatives of prisoners in order to extort money from them in exchange for not putting loved ones on the death list.

So in Iraq, bribe money can mean the difference between life and death.

These captives, in fear of their lives and the unknown, were likely just trying to buy themselves some insurance in the only way they know.

[Bogey78O]

It's a shame people become like that.

[freebilly]

These captives, in fear of their lives and the unknown, were likely just trying to buy themselves some insurance in the only way they know.

No doubt they've been taught that the US and British forces would capture and execute them....

[RogueIsland]

These captives, in fear of their lives and the unknown, were likely just trying to buy themselves some insurance in the only way they know.

I suspect that is exactly the explanation.