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.

[js1138]

People can argue about what was implied or what wasn't. The President obviously hoped the Iraqi people would rise up against Hussein.

I think you need to follow the money to predict who will rebel against Saddam. Sadly, the most prosperous also owe the most to the current government. Not to mention the army.

When we look back at the fighting in a few months and ask whether it was worth it, we need to ask whether the oppressed benefitted -- not the upper middle class.

[shezza]

Check this out....

[Anamensis]

He put kids in prison.

Well, we make them go to public school for 12 years. ;^)

[Lady Heron]

No, because we were using him as a counterweight to Iran who at that time was our enemy. Times change so do policies, some faster than others.

[techcor]

Somebody with a strong stomach needs to log the responses at DU. Maybe in 2004, it can be brought out to remind us of who these folks are. I am physically nauseated. They believe either the story is false, it is true or so what... propaganda... we have juveniles in prison too so who cares if Saddam jails 5 year olds, etc.

The DUh's are one of the sickest groups around. I've taken screen shots of that post and a few others. They also have posted a picture of a poor Iraqi boy that had lost his arms. They actually take delight in every failure. They tried posting it over here but got "zotted". A truly sick bunch.

[Cachelot]

Burma's been under a dictatorship for almost 40 odd years and last time I checked hasn't caused us any harm.

Of course they haven't. At least as far as we know :).

That's hardly the point, though. There's still a threat - and their neighbours are feeling the point of the knife quite acutely. Burma is currently streaming muslims into Bangladesh, and things seem to be approaching a snapping point. More, Burma has been in transition from British colony to Military "Socialist" regime to something that seeems to be tipping more and more islamic and is to some degree in turmoil.

How about you stay on topic

How about you answering the question? Or will I find the answer if I go over and read LibertyForum?

[Brett66]

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.

That's some pretty nice situational ethics he's practicing there. Screw innocent children because he's trying to prevent war. This isn't pro-peace, it's evil.

[buffyt]

Calling Susan Sarandon, Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Janine Garafolo, Dixie Chunks, Alec Baldwin, etc etc etc...............................

[Marysecretary]

I believe it's a demonic mindset. They're truly deceived. This is not just a war between right and left in this nation. This is a spiritual war of huge proportions for the souls of mankind. The left has bought into that mindset.

[buffyt]

We were watching an old INDIANA JONES movie the other night, when they were staying in a huge fancy palance, and there were caves and tunnels under it, and kids were being held, chained at ankle, to do slave labor.....

Yes, Iraq is like a bad nightmare of a Hollywood movie!

[buffyt]

The Left doesn't want to be judgemental, unless THEY are judging US

[KantianBurke]

Could you please post some sources regarding Burma and your claims of Islamic infiltration?

And no I'm not a member of Libertyforum and no I don't hold any paranoid fantasies regarding 9-11. But I also don't appreciate being forced to answer that question in the first place. Its akin to LBJ's old campaigning tactic regarding his accusation against one of his opponents about pig f^&*( - "of course its untrue! But just watch him deny it!"

[B. A. Conservative]

Where were you while FDR was giving half of western Europe to Stalin or Truman refused to let MacArthur deal with the Red Chinese or when LBJ made Haiphong Harbor and Hanoi sanctuaries immune to bombing? Where were you when Bush I turned his thumb up and let Sadam live to fight another day? I think I have a pretty good grasp on who the enemies of freedom actually are. I think I have a very good grasp of what Americans need to do if we are to remain free. Tabling recovery of our Constitutional rights until it more convenient or we don't have a war to fight is not the right answer. Things like the Patriot Act, much of what passes for Homeland Security measures, and much of the entrenched incompetence in government pose a clear and present danger to Americans and our freedom. Acting like Neoanderthrals (uh)..cons, neocons, ranting about almost extinct folks dressed in sheets or bellicosing on the butcher of Baghdad are distractions that detract from common goal setting and the building of alliances needed to send Democrats to the Ash-heap of History. Just because I am not your friend, it doesn't necessarily mean that we don't share some common goals and could easily become allies in a fight to recover some of our lost freedoms.

[Darksheare]

"or bellicosing on the butcher of Baghdad are distractions that detract from common goal setting and the building of alliances needed to send Democrats to the Ash-heap of History."
Just to clarify: Are you saying that we shouldn't be in Iraq or free Iraq from Saddam?

[Marysecretary]

You hit that nail right on the head! I am surrounded by them up here. One of my favorite lines is, "The marxists love the masses. It's people they can't stand." And it's the truth.

[Goodman26]

There should've been GIANT American flags on the vehicles that liberated these kids, so they and their families will forever be on our side.

This we-don't-want-to-be-seen-as-conquerers crap is being overdone.

[fella]

bump

[Mike3689]

Get this - I posted this article to a French guy, and know what his response was?

"Now the question is, wouldn't it have been better to achieve the same result through peace?"

Still trying to get out of him HOW it could've been done through peace... so far all he's added to that is:

"Take out the Baath party.

Using a peaceful method."

*sigh* French...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your willingness to be involved in this! RonF posted some information and a link at #141 and I'm also waiting to see if Tonk has an address for us.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A must read!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST