Signs of U.S. POWs found at hospital

MSNBC

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

Signs of U.S. POWs found at hospital

NBC: Bloodied female U.S. uniforms found at hospital March 28 -- U.S. Marines now control a hospital where they say they found bloodied U.S. uniforms. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES AN NASIRIYAH, March 28 — U.S. Marines who secured a hospital that had been used by Iraqi forces later found several bloodied U.S. uniforms worn by female soldiers, NBC’s Kerry Sanders reported Friday from the hospital. The find suggested that Iraq had held several POWs at the hospital, which is in An Nasiriyah, a town where at least five Americans were taken prisoner and eight went missing after their convoy came under fire.

SANDERS WAS shown where the uniforms were found — inside the bathroom of a larger room that had been padlocked. It was the same room where 3,000 nuclear, biological and chemical suits were found when the Marines moved in. The uniforms, which had had their American flag patches and names ripped off, were found inside a bag. In another room, Marines found a large battery next to a bed — leading them to suspect it was used as a torture device, Sanders reported. The hospital was taken by the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, after a fierce battle with Iraqi forces there. Sanders, who has been traveling with the battalion, was shown the room by a Marine who identified the uniforms as those worn by servicewomen. It was not clear what distinguished them from those worn by men. One female U.S. soldier is listed as a prisoner of war and two as missing in action. They were part of an Army maintenance convoy attacked by Iraqis after making a wrong turn in An Nasiriyah on Sunday. In that incident, two U.S. soldiers were killed, five are known to have been taken prisoner and eight are listed as missing in action. The known female POW is Spc. Shoshawna Johnson, 30, of Fort Bliss, Texas. The female soldiers listed as missing are: Pfc. Jessica Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va.; and Pfc. Lori Piestewa, 22, of Tuba City, Ariz.

POWS EXECUTED? On Wednesday, the Pentagon’s No. 2 general accused Iraq of executing some prisoners of war. Iraq later denied the allegation.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apparently was referring to some of the maintenance troops taken prisoner. Iraqi state television showed video footage of five POWs who were alive and the bodies of at least five U.S. soldiers. Defense officials who have viewed the tape have said privately that several of the bodies had execution-style gunshot wounds to their heads. On Thursday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that other Iraqi TV footage appeared to show two British soldiers who had been executed. “It is an act of cruelty beyond all human comprehension,” the prime minister said at a news conference with President Bush after their summit at Camp David. U.S. intelligence officials have received one uncorroborated report indicating that at least some of the dead soldiers had been captured alive and executed in public, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The information was of undetermined reliability, the official said. Pace, interviewed on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” said Iraqis had engaged in many atrocities since the war began. “They have executed prisoners of war. ... They have used women and children as human shields, and they have pretended to surrender and then opened fire,” Pace said. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s disgusting.”

[bedolido]

these people are animals. Actually lower than animals.

[ClearCase_guy]

On the one hand, it raises some faint hope that Shoshanna, Jessica and Lori are still alive. On the other hand, it's pretty bad reporting to say "several" uniforms. Does that mean 3? Wouldn't an integer help us get the facts straight?

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

This is horrible, however, maybe they are close by and can be rescued.

[dandelion]

All our soldiers need our prayers right now, but please take time to pray specifically for our POWs. God is with them in their suffering, and justice will be done.

[Hodar]

On the off chance, maybe the Iraqi army knows they will be held accountable. And knowing this, some officer may have then made the decision to provide medical care to POW's. It's not definite, but there is hope.

[Jerry_M]

Sometimes you have to wonder if reporters are issued brains: "...identified the uniforms as those worn by servicewomen. It was not clear what distinguished them from those worn by men."

Two clues:
1) that tag that says "Female"; and
2) the cut of the pants should the tag be missing.
(How old are you when you first notice that men and women are built differently?)

[RippleFire]

Full tape shows executions? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/878179/posts

[InspiredPath1]

"these people are animals. Actually lower than animals"

Shhhhh! Don't say that! PETA may make us stop!

Sorry to be flippant about this subject.

[joesnuffy]

This is the satanic overt side of islam....the joy the saddistic bully...it is the signature and zeitgiest of the regime of Saddam Hussein... sodom insane...the marqui de saddam...delight in the screams of the helpless enemy how sweet the sound...to the depraved flesh and satanic minds

[jriemer]

these people are animals. Actually lower than animals.

Actually, they're extremely large single-cell organisms with opposable tendrils that just appear human.

[neutrino]

I assume there is no doubt what has been done to the female POWs. Quite likely, torture of every variety, with an emphasis on humiliation and degradation.

And the US wishes to minimize Iraqi casualties? No. It is time to unleash horror upon these vermin. Break them.

[LibertyJihad]

Iraq is the cradle of civilization. Unfortunately, civilization pulled itself from the cradle and left the country as soon as it learned to walk.

[mystery-ak]

Does anyone have any info on the 11 Marines missing since Sunday....they were with the 1st Bat., 2nd Reg.,2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade....14 were listed as wounded and 11 MIA....we have a local Marine as one of the MIA.

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

The stories that come out after this war is over are going to be horrific. We are only getting the tip of the iceburg.

[blondy]

Sometimes you have to wonder if reporters are issued brains: "...identified the uniforms as those worn by servicewomen. It was not clear what distinguished them from those worn by men."

Two clues:
1) that tag that says "Female"; and
2) the cut of the pants should the tag be missing.
(How old are you when you first notice that men and women are built differently?)

There is no such thing as FEMALE BDU's. Just several different sizes and lengths.

[Jerry_M]

Maybe things have changed since BDU's first came on the scene in the early 80's, but I distinctly remember the "Male" and "Female" tags that were inside each pair at that time. Could it be that these tags no longer exist as part of a move towards "political correctness"?

[LouisianaJoanof Arc]

This is one of the MIAs! I hope the liberal feminist are happy now!

Throw rocks at me but I must say this. I am not a feminist but feel that male soldier's lives are just as important as females. Don't forget that there is someone at home that loves "him" just as much as "her".

[arichtaxpayer]

No, animals take care of their young. These thugs have no conscience, and are about as inhumane as they come. Bless our missing!!