Officials Say Iraqis May Have Killed Some Prisoners

NY Times ^ | 3/26/2003

[saquin]

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March 26, 2003

Officials Say Iraqis May Have Killed Some Prisoners

By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID E. SANGER

ASHINGTON, March 25 ? Some of the Army mechanics captured on Sunday after they took a wrong turn in the Iraqi town of Nasiriya were apparently executed by their captors, probably in front of townspeople in the area, American officials charged tonight.

The officials cautioned tonight that this information was based on a single source, apparently a communications intercept, and that they were seeking corroborating evidence.

It is unclear how many of the seven slain soldiers were executed, rather than slain in a skirmish, as the Iraqis contend. Five other American soldiers were taken prisoner.

The accusations regarding the execution of American soldiers came days after a videotape of the Army prisoners and the dead soldiers was broadcast on Al Jazeera, the Arab satellite television network. The tape showed images of at least four bodies; some of the dead appeared to have bullet wounds to the head.

"When the full story comes out, people will be outraged," said one senior military official.

The accusations came at the end of a day in which senior White House and Pentagon officials accused the Iraqis of a number of war crimes, including feigning surrender and then shooting at American forces, and using a hospital as a staging area for military operations.

The White House also said that Iraqi paramilitary forces were responsible for blocking the flow of food and aid into Basra ? a city that American forces largely bypassed in their drive toward Baghdad.

[don-o]

Well, duh.

This is old news from the grey lady

[Arkinsaw]

I'm already outraged. There will be hangings for this one I expect.

[over3Owithabrain]

We need to quit whining about war crimes (like they care) and just get down and dirty and kill these bastards wherever they are or whoever they are hiding behind.

[Cold Heat]

What was the Slimes waiting for? They probably spiked the story and then felt like old news was better and printed it.

[John Valentine]

Come on, you dull libs!

Unless there is an Iraqi throat slitting weapon we don't know about, it is difficult to conclude that they were "slain in a skirmish".

They were executed. Pure, simple fact. And one apparently by slitting of the throat. A very Arabic, very Islamic way of dispatching someone.

Does that please your sensitive liberal crybaby psyches over there at the "New York Times"??

[Poincare]

Anyone who saw the tape or pictures knows that the dead POWs had their genitals exposed.

My uncle was captured in Italy in WWII and told he me years ago that the Gestapo conducted a short arm inspection of the POWs and executed the ones that were circumcised, presumably Jews. My Swedish-Irish (100 percent American) uncle survived.

With regard to the POWs on the Al Jizeera tape on has to ask, "why were only some of the prisoners executed?" The pants were obviously pulled down. It is known that the Iraqi TV has told the Iraqi people that the are being invaded by Americans and Israelis.

If the Red Cross can get to the surviving POWs they must follow this line of investigation. Why is it that the American public can't be shown violence and sex without Hollywood getting the proceeds?

[MediaMole]

It was clear from the video that the soldiers were executed.

If the video had been shown widely in the US, anger would have reached 9/11 levels. Once again, there are many in the media who think it is better that we don't see the ugly truth about our enemies.

[dogbyte12]

In fairness (i am gagging as I type that word) to the NY Times, the detail about the public execution in front of towns people is a new detail that I have not heard before.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Well said.

[jwalsh07]

I'm already outraged. There will be hangings for this one I expect.

I don't think so, let the Army take care of their own. Kill them there.

[Cold Heat]

They just connected the dots. It was the irregulars that took them, and they likely shot them in front of the others to show how big and bad they were.

These guys have no military leadership nor any scruples. They are just plain bad asses with no rudder to steer them.

[saquin]

Contrast their treatment of our prisoners with our treatment of theirs:

Wounded Iraqi is treated by US medic

Notice the grateful Iraqi's hand on the US medic's face.

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003140381,00.html

[Cold Heat]

In fairness

I forgot to mention that NYT articles rarely give a source. The sources are alway un-named military higher ups or in this case, a intel intercept that they cannot talk about.

The report tonite about the E-bomb is another conjecture without a named source.

I get so frosted with this crap!!!!!!

[crazykatz]

As much as I hate to mention this..... muslims are also circumcised.

[Kay Soze]

I pray we capture Saddam and his sons.

And execute them.

[sullivan-fan]

It would seem the removal or pulling down of pants was for humiliation and/or torture not for locating Jews.

[Poincare]

As much as I hate to mention this..... muslims are also circumcised.

So? I know that Muslims also practice circumcision. The thugs were (possibly) looking for Jews, not Muslims. I'm just saying that the Red Cross should ask the surviving POWs. Why weren't they executed? Did they also have their pants pulled down?

[sullivan-fan]

Even if the Red Cross is given access to the prisoners they will not be able to report mistreatment because they will be subject to further torture and/or execution.

[wildbill]

"The Office of Management and Budget made it clear that it was profitable for nations to be members of Mr. Bush's "coalition of the willing," even if some were only reluctantly willing."

This is editorializing in a "news" column and despicable reporting, typical of the NYT.