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.

[zygoat]

I have to agree with you on this topic. The people calling for the overthrow of every sadistic dictatorship on earth are overlooking a few minor problems.First, where to begin? Are we to go after the big boy -Red China? a truly dispicaple regime, where child labor and forced abortion of female children(in order to produce more males) are rumored? North Korea? Parts of Africa where toddlers are raped in an insane attempt to "cure" the rapists of AIDS? or perhaps Cuba, where women and children routinely die in their attempt to escape tyranny? How many of our 19 & 20 year olds ( OUR KIDS) or we willing to sacrifice to achieve these lofty goals? While I fully support President Bush and am thankful to see the release of these children, I'm afraid that this is just one of the many pleasant by-products of the expanded war on terror.Hopefully, the war on terror WILL expand to other deserving dictators, and we will see more liberation the innocents within their borders,but to think we can topple every nation guilty of human rights violations in this lifetime is to be unrealistic. It would be nice though. Perhaps someone can redo the lyrics of "Imagine".

[B. A. Conservative]

What I was suggesting is that CP was ranting against me based on his preconceived notions of a particular group of conservatives.

What I am suggesting is that by dividing Conservatives into labeled groups, you in effect divide Conservatives into factions. And factions tend to fight or quarrel with other factions, in turn weakening rather than strengthening the Conservative political movement in the country. Remember the old age about dealing with your enemies, "divide and conquer".

I am suggesting that what any particular group or any particular individual within that particular group believes about any single issue is irrelevant and debating the whys and wherefors of something that is not germane to the primary mission of the group is both divisive and a waste of resources.

Simplifying to the lowest common denominator, Democrats want to grow and expand the power of government. It is how they think, believe, win elections and grow their base of power. By default, Republicans become the opposition party. For conservatives, whose real mission is freedom, reducing the scope and power of government are paramount. By default, conservatives must focus on ensuring that Republicans are true to the mission of opposing Democrats. And that means focusing Republicans on reducing the scope and power of government. Anything else is a distraction and diverts attention and resources away from the primary mission.

[Terriergal]

No it wasn't. It was someone hawkish infiltrating an antiwar protest to show them what they really look like. The guy responsible called Rush's show to talk about it. There are more pix here:

Dittoheads Infiltrate Frisco Freak Protest

and here

More Frisco freak protest pix

[Darksheare]

Okers.
Kinda had my forage cap spin at that section.
But before I opened my mouth I decided to ask what was meant.
Thanks for the clarification.
-Darksheare

[Publicus]

True. But EVERY tyrant devours liberty. EVERY tyrant is a parasite and sponges off the toils and labors of the people and drains their spirit.

Europe's failure to stop Hitler before he grew into the formidable power is due to the fact Europe has ALWAYS lacked ANY moral leadership. THAT's why they CONSTANTLY stir trouble and war among themselves and others- with millions being slaughtered and on more than one ocassion forcing us to shed OUR blood and OUR treasure cleaning up THEIR messes.

As if the messes they made among themselves wasn't enough, they went off and colonized foreign countries! -Causing even MORE aggravation and bloodshed. Vietnam was another one of France's fine messes.

One would have thought World War I taught them the lesson but NnOOOOOO they had to start World War II and STILL they didn't learn. Then we had the Cold War but STILL they didn't learn...(Remember the mess THEY made out of Yugoslavia- that's right WE are STILL paying for it, AS WELL AS their colonial messes in the Middle East and Africa!)

(Many Europeans have this surrender reflex with dictators- especially if they sport a mustache, like Hitler, Stalin, Saddam, etc. they INSTANTLY drop their trousers, bend-over and goob themselves up with the old K-Y with airport runway strobes leading the way for the dictators.)

More recently, the whining weenies actually had the nerve to not only publicly disagree with our defensive measures against Saddam and the other terrorists- they actually took steps to OBSTRUCT our efforts! Even worse, they took active steps to hurt the troops carrying out the noble objective of removing Saddam and his thugs when they decided to supply and train Saddam with advanced weapons and equipment. (How else did they take out the Abrams- a "lucky" shot from an AK-47...? Yeahrrright.)

Anyway, THAT's why until we develop the advanced energy technologies to power our economy and defense/industrial complex from fossil fuels to clean fuels and fusion, WE absolutely WILL maintain our armed forces AND control the flow of oil to those countries who oppose us because THAT is the only way to keep them reasonably well behaved. Enough is enough. If they want to kill themselves, fine. The problem is they ALWAYS drag us and others into it. NO THANKS! Let's try it our way for a change and tell the tyrants, terrorists, and their lefty advocates here in the US to leave us alone or else they too will meet Saddam's fate. It's up to them.

[Publicus]

BEAUTIFUL REPORT!

TERRIFIC JOB!

How much time did you spend preparing it?

[blackie]

Freedom for Iraqi's!

Let's Roll!

[downwithterrorism]

O my god!! Wondering what the dixy chicks..and the hollyweird..anti war protesters are thinking now? Bet there wishing they would have kept there big stuppid mouths shut. O yeah...and those french, german, and anti american govenments should go put there heads in the sand.

AMERICA IS GOOD!!!

[Publicus]

Stop the Ba'athists in Ithaca from "nationalizing" Pine's property.

They are convinced that because Ithaca is a such a small, somewhat isolated community on one will notice what they are doing or at least will not do anything about it.

FYI: 130-134 East Seneca Street is a commercial property that is also co-owned by a widow and Tom Pine.

A developer (Ciminelli) covets the property so that he can build an office building and hotel- the fact the projects are not even commercially viable is another matter.

The quoted $26,000,000 price tag is also dubious since there is NO WAY the small office building and hotel cost anywhere near that much to build and/or maintain.

Equally disturbing is a that the players involved have cooked up an Enronesque financing scheme seeking public assistance that shows the use of taxpayer- i.e. YOUR- monies being used to fund kickbacks!

The widow's ownership interests are being completely ignored by the local players involved.

Ciminelli has offered Pine some money for him to clear out his business- which he painstakingly built and is located on the premises (Race Office Supply)- and to hand over to him his ownership share in the property.

Certain local officials have threatened Pine saying if he doesn't sell his property to Ciminelli, they will use eminent domain proceedings to seize the property and hand it over to Ciminelli themselves!

It would VERY helpful if FREEPERS and other serious minded, no-nonsense, freedom loving Americans drop a line to Pine and give him a supportive word.

Pine can be reached at (607)273-1011.

Then call one or two of the crooked officials involved (see list below) and let them know that you absolutely do NOT want YOUR hard earned tax monies being used in ANY way to expropriate Pine's property against his will nor to harm or threaten him.

The sleazy local officials involved very well KNOW the use of eminent domain in this case is inappropriate because it amounts to extortion as it is being used pressure one party to give concessions in a private negotiation to enrich another- and at taxpayer expense no less!

No Means NO!

---

Alan J. Cohen
Phone: (607)274-6501
Email: mayor@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Paulette Manos
Phone: (607) 273-4170
Email: paulettem@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Susan Blumenthal
Phone: (607) 272-3931
Email: susanb@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Patricia Pryor
Phone: (607) 273-1741
Email: patp@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member David Whitmore
Phone: (607) 273-1254
Email: davidw@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Diann Sams
Phone: (607) 277-8188
Email: dianns@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Patricia Vaughan
Phone: (607) 273-3870
Email: patv@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Carolyn Peterson
Phone: (607) 272-8129
Email: carolynp@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Peter Mack
Phone: (607) 253-7070
Email: peterm@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Daniel Cogan
Phone: (607) 273-2076
Email: dcogan@cityofithaca.org

Ithaca Common Council Member Edward Hershey
Phone: (607) 272-0590
Email: enh2@cornell.edu

[Publicus]

It is too late for the Demoncrats.

[KevinB]

Remember, Scott Ritter told us about these kids prisons.

Hmm, it's all starting to make sense. Scotty boy didn't want to lose his endless supply!

[Saundra Duffy]

Were there any pictures of these kids? THANK GOD FOR AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for the photos. THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Great photo. Thanks! THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

I guess Michael Moore is disappointed that these children were freed. Makes him look like more of an ass hole. THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT BUSH AND OUR MILITARY!!!!!!!!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

Hillary "it takes a village" Clinton is married to a rapist.

[piasa]

Wow, gosh, thanks!

*blush*

I have no idea how much time was put into that- it's a part of the stock replies I've gradually accumulated to the lib's "it's America's fault" talking points- except this time there was a bizaare new twist targetting Cheney which I had not encountered before.

[MattGarrett]

"Inspections work, war won't."
- MoveOn.Org

[Publicus]

"except this time there was a bizaare new twist targetting Cheney which I had not encountered before"

Yes. And you fired right back destroying the lie. Kudos and thanks to you again. You're great!