Kids Used as Decoys

News 24 ^ | April 11, 2003 | News24

[FairOpinion]

Baghdad - The request for candy seemed innocent enough, but as the children approached the marines on patrol in Baghdad, Iraqi forces drove up and unleashed a salvo of rocket-propelled grenades.

The ensuing five-hour firefight left nine marines wounded, including one who was shot in the head and remains in a critical condition.

Staff Sergeant Brian Ivers said the experience on Wednesday, shortly after the marines' arrival in the Iraqi capital, had rammed home the dangers of being lulled into a false sense of security.

Ivers said it appeared that the group of youngsters had been deliberately set up as a decoy at an intersection in the Palestinian neighbourhood of the capital by die-hard supporters of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"They missed us with rocket propelled grenades and we took heavy machine-gun fire from the right and left. Then these cars start heading towards us," he told AFP.

"We hit one and it hit a telephone pole. We just lit up the other cars and civilians trying to escape were taking fire from the Iraqis.

"It was like something out of World War II but with kamikaze cars and it really unnerved the men because every car made them nervous and when my men saw the children they started crying and went to rescue the survivors," said Ivers from Fox Company 2nd Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment.

Deadly incidents

The marines were largely greeted with cheers and goodwill by civilians on their arrival in Baghdad, but they have been made well aware that the capital remains a dangerous battleground.

Troops, in particular those based at checkpoints, have been unnerved by a series of deadly incidents.

One US soldier was killed on Thursday in a suicide attack in Baghdad's Saddam City, the scene of euphoric celebrations the day before as tanks rolled into the mainly Shi'ite suburb.

That was the third suicide attack since the US-led campaign began March 20.

Three coalition soldiers were killed earlier this month when two Iraqi women carried out a suicide car bombing at a US military checkpoint near Hadithah Dam, about 200km northwest of Baghdad.

Civilians also took to the streets to surrender or welcome the US troops on their approach to Baghdad.

But marines were reduced to tears in the southern city of Nasiriyah after hearing Iraqis had killed a number of their comrades by blasting an amphibious assault vehicle with a rocket after waving a white flag.

Ivers said the use of children as a decoy by militiamen on Wednesday fitted in with a pattern of blurring the boundaries between military and civilian.

Coalition forces have consistently accused Iraqi forces of dressing in civilian clothing during the war to oust Saddam and charged that they have used the sanctuary of mosques to launch attacks.

[FairOpinion]

Why aren't the Humanitarian agencies and the UN complaining about this?

I know, they are too busy complaining about the NON-violent "looting" when the Iraqis take home a few things from the buildings of their ex-oppressors. :(

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[TopQuark]

civilians trying to escape were taking fire from the Iraqis.

Sean Penn, go to Bagdhad --- take care of this.

[TopQuark]

blasting an amphibious assault vehicle with a rocket after waving a white flag.

Bastards!

[arjay]

If they say anything, they will say it is our fault. The children would still be alive if we had not "invaded." We can't win for losing the propaganda wars.

[fellowpatriot]

Why aren't the Humanitarian agencies and the UN complaining about this?

I know, they are too busy complaining about the NON-violent "looting" when the Iraqis take home a few things from the buildings of their ex-oppressors. :(

Yes, they complain about the Iraqi citizens looting as they make plans to do the same when the war is over.

[patriciaruth]

The funniest remark I heard about the looting was a commentator on FNS who said something like, "I don't understand why the liberal media isn't for this. It's instant redistribution of wealth."

[Fee]

Have the free Iraqi take care of the Palestinians. They were strong supporters of Saddam.

[John Jamieson]

I watched video of the 5 hour fire fight under the bridge last night. A marine was shot in the leg and rested against the cornor of a tank, still shooting as 4 other marines rushed over to get him on a stretcher. Dogging bullets all the way. The marine fell onto the stretcher but did not give up his rife. As the others ran with him to a vehicle, he still got off two more covering shots. According to the press guy, both shots hit their targets. Amazing bravery by all 5.

[america-rules]

IT WAS THE THIR THIME THAT GUY HAS BEEN SHOT JUST FYI!

Caps Off :)

[FairOpinion]

"I don't understand why the liberal media isn't for this. It's instant redistribution of wealth."

---
I am sure they said it sarcastically, "tongue-in-cheek", but they did have a point in a weird way.

After all that is what the communists are for and that is exactly what they did when they took it over, stormed the factories, houses of "the capitalist rich". But that was OK, because communists were doing it.

Then there is the vandalism of the "peace protesters" against other people, which the liberals encourage, and don't have any problem with.

But when the poor Iraqi people spend a few days taking some things from their defunct oppressive regime, the liberals just can't stand it.

[Mister Baredog]

Why aren't the Humanitarian agencies and the UN complaining about this?

Because it's not the US doing it.

[quietolong]

I just finished reading Lt. Calley’s book “ Lt. Calley His Own Story “ In it one of the things he states. One of the VC “ tricks “ was to send the young kid’s out to “greet “ the GIs coming in to a village. To slow down the soldiers entrance into the village so as to give the VC time to escape out the back or hide.
I have personally talked to one Vet. Who was troubled. After some time he told me his story.
One of the things the things the VC would do. Is strap explosive charges to young little girls back ( 4-5 year olds) The kids don’t know any better there just running out to get candy from the GIs.
After seeing a couple of his buddies get killed in such an “ attack” He had to shoot some of these young kids to prevent the same from happening to him and other new members of his squad. And if that’s not bad enough one of the thing that was really bothering him. At the time his own daughter was five.

So when I see on TV our young GIs getting greeted by all these kids. These two stories come to mind. And I say Run thought them and see what’s trying to slither out the back.


Different place different time Same type of thugs.

[GailA]

Hubby's uncle said the same things happened in WWII..in Burma. He was part of Merrill's Marauders.

[Andy from Beaverton]

The headline made me think of goats first, not people.