Jailed Iraqi children run free as Marines roll into Baghdad suburbs

Agence France-Presse ^ | April 8, 2003

[HAL9000]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - More than 100 children held in a prison celebrated their freedom Tuesday as US marines rolled into northeast Baghdad amid chaotic scenes which saw civilians loot weapons from an army compound, a US officer said.

Around 150 children spilled out of the jail after the gates were opened as a US military Humvee vehicle approached, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla told an AFP correspondent travelling with the Marines 5th Regiment.

"Hundreds of kids were swarming us and kissing us," Padilla said.

"There were parents running up, so happy to have their kids back."

"The children had been imprisoned because they had not joined the youth branch of the Baath party," he alleged. "Some of these kids had been in there for five years."

The children, who were wearing threadbare clothes and looked under-nourished, walked on the streets crossing their hands as if to mimic handcuffs, before giving the thumbs up sign and shouting their thanks.

It was not clear who had opened the doors of the prison.

Civilians also took advantage of the collapse of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's authority to grab weapons from an army base, said Group Sergeant Jeff Treiber.

As marines were alerted by radio that civilians had seized weapons, Treiber warned that anyone seen to be armed could be a target of US-British coalition forces.

"With the weapons they are becoming combatants," said Treiber. "If they don't take the weapons they will be fine."

Other residents stole air conditioning units, television sets and furniture from government buildings in an echo of the looting that was seen in the southern city of Basra.

A 19-year-old called Haider said people had been ransacking government compounds since the morning to steal weapons and furniture.

"Since the morning, nine o'clock, they have been looting. They are stealing weapons and I took three doors," he said.

At one stage the marines opened fire after coming under attack from snipers, leaving at least two civilians wounded.

One man needed treatment for gunshot wounds to his stomach and left arm.

But his friend, Abdul Amir Jaffa, said he did not resent the Americans despite the shooting.

"Americans are coming to free us," he told AFP.

The marines became increasingly edgy as crowds of people took to the streets to observe their progress.

"It's a problem with so many people in the area. Its hard to tell if there are enemy forces among them. You have to be careful returning fire with civilians all over the place," Lieutenant Anthony Sousa said.

Troops from the Marines' 1st Expeditionary Force also entered Baghdad on the east of the city Tuesday as thousands of armoured vehicles and Humvees poured into the capital for a showdown with Saddam Hussein's troops.

[finnman69]

Jesus.

He put kids in prison.

I am not surprised.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

This is the most disgusting thing I have ever read. The pro-Saddam left should be held accountable for their tacit support of this ruthless dictator.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"The children had been imprisoned because they had not joined the youth branch of the Baath party," he alleged. "Some of these kids had been in there for five years."

And amazingly reported by France Press.

[3AngelaD]

Agence France Press changes its tune.

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[Politically Correct]

They are going to need those weapons to take out the Fedayeen in their neighborhoods.

[Dog Gone]

I don't mind if the civilians turn their weapons on their oppressors. They know who the bad guys are.

[TimPatriot]

Reported by a French news outlet no less.

[Number_Cruncher]

It is Hillary's idea of the ideal village.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Probably like a scene right out of "Indiana Jones" where he and the Chinese kid go in and free all those youths subjected to slave labour.

How can the liberal scumbags say Bush was wrong NOW!?

"No War for Oil", huhhhh????

[Bluntpoint]

Ritter refered to these prisons as dating services.

[KingPin]

Sounds like he took a playbook from the DNC, afterall they want everyone to be forced into a public education.

[Gasshog]

this took me off guard, what kind of creep puts little kids in jail?

grrrrr.

[WillVoteForFood]

Remember it was Scott Ritter who stated he had seen proof of Hussein's abusive conduct toward children, but tried to keep it quiet as he stated he was for peace, not war. I'm sure I saw that article posted here but don't remember a title.

[N. Theknow]

We don't need to find any WMD.

We already have overwhelming proof that Saddam and his sons and henchmen were the world's worst WMD.

[TLBSHOW]

and Scott Ritter should be held on charges of Treason and crimes againsts humanity...

Question:
You've spoke about having seen the children's prisons in Iraq. Can you describe what you saw there?

Scott Ritter:
The prison in question is at the General Security Services headquarters, which was inspected by my team in Jan. 1998. It appeared to be a prison for children — toddlers up to pre-adolescents — whose only crime was to be the offspring of those who have spoken out politically against the regime of Saddam Hussein. It was a horrific scene. Actually I'm not going to describe what I saw there because what I saw was so horrible that it can be used by those who would want to promote war with Iraq, and right now I'm waging peace.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,351165,00.html

[UCFRoadWarrior]

The American Left is losing credibility everyday. They supported a dictator who jailed kids for not joining a political party.

I wonder if someone is telling the Iraqis about people like Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, Mike Farrell, Ted Kennedy, Tom Daschle, etc.... who didnt want the US to liberate Iraq? If we listened to the wacko left, these kids would still be in prison and their parents heartbroken

[MizSterious]

I am compiling a list of things to bring up the next time some liberal doofus starts spewing that "it's all about oil." The torture, the rapes, the imprisonment of children and more--this is what the anti-war people are supporting, whether they are aware of it or not. I plan to make as many of them aware of it as possible.