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.

[Petronski]

these are malcontent traitors who feel so guilty by their upper middle class existence, that they enjoy the squallor of other people in that it helps them feel morally smug and superior.

I used to call them unamerican, but that doesn't quite capture it, because very few of them are actually Americans. Just a bunch of jealous, Stalinist Eurotrash who loathe anything that hasn't sunk to their pathetic levels of debasement, emptiness and failure.

From whom should I take moral advice? Elie Wiesel or those heartless bastards at 'the other site?'

[Publicus]

Don't worry, they already are in fact

[Publicus]

Those morons ought to put on a Ba'athist uniform and join Sahaf and spew lies together.

[bigjoesaddle]

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."

Thats like taking a splinter out of your finger with kind words.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

#235

I agree with every word you wrote. Excellent post!

[Publicus]

The problem is if the tyrants are not dispensed with they- like a cancer- grow in strength and the cost of getting rid of them becomes much higher.

Remember, no one considered Hitler to be an "immediate" threat either- until he built himself up and enslaved entire nations as as easily as you or I wolfing down a stack of buttermilk pancakes from Soullard's.

By then of course, the cost of getting rid of him skyrocketed to the cost of millions of lives and entire economies wrecked for a generation.

[Technogeeb]

Reagan used Saddam as a surrogate against Iran because, if you remember, Iran was behaving very badly toward us, holding American hostages, blah, blah.

No he didn't. In fact, he did the exact opposite. We secretly gave the Iranians weapons (TOW ATGMs, HAWKS SAMs, and spare parts for the weapons previously purchased under the Shah) to resist Iraq. About the only help we ever gave Saddam was strategic intelligence (once) in order to prevent an Iranian incursion into Basra.

[Publicus]

If we can help, then we must. We owe to all freedom loving people everywhere and to ourselves.

[Publicus]

Well said.

[duckbutt]

I'm thoroughly convinced these islamofacists are the ultimate in girly men. They imprison children, terrorize women, use women and children as human shields.

Yet, when confronted man to man, they run away like girly men or throw their arms in the air and surrender. They are maggots.....

A real man protects and cherishes his woman and children.

These men are lower than whale crap.

God help these men if women end up getting the vote and are recognized as equal under a western-style republic.

[Publicus]

He also regrets our reading his lips. I know he blames Congress for that but the fact is he could have and should have stayed strong on that point by exposing demos' pork. By compromising in such a fundamental position, he ironically helped Willie and fostered cynicism.

[byrdy]

Recently, I read a story by an Iranian man that was held as a POW in Iraq. He recalled that there were boys that were as young as 10 and 11. Stated that they were regularly raped by guards. Nothing would surprise me at this point.

History will ultimately judge those that stood by and watched...many Neville Chamberlains..etc.

[SamAdams76]

I think it is fair to hold the Bush I Administration accountable for leaving Saddam in power. It was an awful thing to do. Especially since Bush I told those people to rise up against Saddam only to suddenly withdraw our troops and allow three division of the Republican Guard to survive, which were then used to smash these people down. That is why the Iraqi people have been slow to come around to us this time as liberators. They don't trust us and unfortunately, we gave them ample reason not to trust us. And I don't want to hear any lame excuses of how we were afraid the coalition might fall apart if we marched to Baghdad. That concern certainly didn't stop Bush II from doing what had to be done.

However, it does appear that many from the first Bush Administration (i.e. Cheney, Powell) understand that leaving Saddam in place was a mistake and have worked in this administration to rectify the matter. I'm also sure that Bush I feels horrible for not only the poor decision in 1991 that resulted in so many deaths and so much grief for the Iraqi people but for what his son is now going through as a result.

Appeasement of dictators never works. It didn't work for Chamberlain in 1939 and it didn't work for Bush I in 1991. Let's at least learn that lesson from history for once and for all.

[Publicus]

This MUST be done. We MUST make sure women have equal rights under the law otherwise the entire effort to liberate ALL Iraqis would have been for nothing; Saddam will be replaced with another tin-pot and the development of Iraqi society will remain arrested and stuck in the dark ages. Not good for Iraqis, not good for Arabs, not good for Israel, not good for US, not good for the world.

We need Iraq to flower as an example to the Arab world- indeed for everyone- showing nothing is more beautiful, nothing is more inspiring than seeing free people striving, prospering, and achieving great things into the future to the benefit of all humanity.

[RepPhil]

Not in my name

[Rocko]

Bump.

[Rocko]

Michael Moore is a big fat idiot who, if he'd had his way, would have kept those kids in prison. What a pig.

[twntaipan]

Jim McDermott, et.al. should be directly questioned about this, and their constituents should not be allowed to forget this.

[fly_so_free]

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 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 there 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."

"because what I saw there was SO HORRIBLE that it can be used by those who who would want to promote war with Iraq and right now I'm waging peace."

Only a liberal and a demacRAT could make a statement like that. This is a perfect example of why I will NEVER EVER be a liberal or a demacRAT or vote for one. What a great illustration of how the demacRATic party thinks. I'm going to print this out and leave it on the desks of the liberals at my work. I'll attach a note to it: Here's someone you demacRATS can be "proud" of. (LOL)

For you dimwitted, retarded, anti-war Hollywood scum:

"It appeared to be a prison for children-TODDLERS TO PRE ADOLESCENT-"...............These children were set free today- BY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY-got that Jeneane Garafalo???

"It appeared to be a prison for children-TODDLERS TO PRE ADOLESCENT-"................These children were set free today -BY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY -Did you hear that Martin Sheen with your stupid duct tape over your mouth? (do us all a favor and KEEP the tape on your mouth.)

"It appeared to be a prison for children-TODDLERS TO PRE ADOLESCENT-"..................These children were set free today -BY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY- Are you listening Oprah Winfrey? ( you big wind bag crying crocodile tears "for the children")

"It appeared to be a prison for children-TODDLERS TO PRE ADOLESCENT-".................These children were set free today- BY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY- Susuan Sarandon, your idiot husband (what's -his-name), Mike Farrell, Sean Penn, Barbara Streisand and the rest: Aren't you you just so pruoud of yourselves that you wanted to keep Saddam in power and keep these children in prison?

[TLBSHOW]

Problem is he says he is a republican and voted for Bush!

He must be like some of the fake republicans like we have in the Senate!