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.

[Dog]

Dear god......he put children in a prison.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Do you have a link?

[biblewonk]

No wonder fewer and fewer people even care if he had and WMD. I'm surprised the French wrote this. Maybe they want to sell some wine and cheese in 03.

[xJones]

Even Scott Ritter said he wouldn't talk about the Iraqi children's prisons he'd seen, they were just too horrible. Little toddlers were sometimes arrested and put in them, as punishment to their familes.

[Use It Or Lose It]

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

It sure wasn't Martin Sheen or Susan Sarandon or Mike Farrell.

[LPStar]

I read before about child prisons where dissidents' children were held in captivity. This is probably one of them.

[San Jacinto]

This is the kind of crap tom daschle and his fellow RATS support. And I use the word "SUPPORT" on purpose. There is no other way to put it. When you oppose your country's going into battle and call it a "dismal failure of diplomacy" not to get french approval first, then you are SUPPORTING saddam hussein and his policies, including keeping children in prison. They are no longer just 'Rats to me. Henceforth, they are now scumRats.

[biblewonk]

Ritter refered to these prisons as dating services.

Does this mean what I think it means?

[CFW]

My God!!!!!!! He knew????

Words fail me.

[Smedley]

"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."

Don't be stupid, be a smarty ...
Come and join the Baathist Party

[Dog]

Can someone please ping ATRW ping list.

[ambrose]

I deeply disappointed.

[ambrose]

I am deeply disappointed.

[ErnBatavia]

...Probably the source of his pogey bait.

[xJones]

That's true, and he's an immoral rat beneath contempt because of it. But he did say they were horrible.

[San Jacinto]

Scott Ritter told us about these kids prisons

He probably applied to work there. Perfect place. Lots of 13 year olds.

[rhombus]

Damn, there's GOT to be some video of this...

[EternalVigilance]

Heartfelt Joy

No Hollywood producer
That ever lived
Could ever reproduce such joy

No actor, no matter how fine
Could make their faces shine
Like these girls and boys

Though they've known fear
And darkness for years
For this moment in time
There are no more tears

EV

[OldFriend]

As far as the Sarandon types are concerned.....if the Iraqi's didn't do anything to her personally, then it's none of our business what they do to their own citizens.