Captive soldiers riot almost daily

Chicago Tribune ^ | 04/14/03 | Saul Hudson

[bedolido]

UMM QASR, Iraq -- Hurling rocks, bottles filled with sand and wooden stakes, detainees at the only permanent U.S. prisoner-of-war camp in Iraq riot almost daily, military officials said Sunday.

Anger over slow food lines or disputes among ethnic groups can spark uprisings--especially with ringleaders quick to incite riots inside the prison camp that houses about 6,000 Iraqis under long white open tents, they said.

"Pretty much every day there's a riot. It can get real ugly in there for the MPs [military police]," said Maj. Joel Droba of the 13th Psychological Operations battalion, which broadcasts orders for calm over loudspeakers and interrogates prisoners to weed out instigators.

On Sunday, clashes broke out when some prisoners opposed an Iraqi general attempting to organize a hunger strike, he said. Hours later, the camp appeared calm.

Prisoners wearing T-shirts and trousers milled around or chatted in groups of up to a dozen. Some gazed at the guards through the 6-foot chain-link fence topped with barbed wire and draped with bright red blankets billowing in gusty winds.

The riots generally haven't been large, but military police have regularly had to enter to quell violence at the camp, which is a few miles outside Umm Qasr.

[bedolido]

probably upset cause they can't get into the looting.

[OldFriend]

Culling the herd.

[areafiftyone]

I am just wondering what they are going to do with all these guys!

[RetiredArmy]

Sounds like a place to drop that 21,000 pounder MOABs!

[Support Free Republic]

God bless our troops. Come home safe, and soon.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Pull the MPs out, put M-60s on each corner, and throw them a dozen knives. Last man standing get shot.

[k2blader]

Good Q.

[bedolido]

"Sounds like a place to drop that 21,000 pounder MOABs!"


lol... I've been wanting to see it used too... but just a bit overkill I think.

[the Deejay]

What an ungrateful lot! I'll bet dollars to donuts they never protested "slow lines for food" under Saddam!

[xJones]

I am just wondering what they are going to do with all these guys!

They don't fear us because we didn't kill them, that's all they're used to. Releasing those idiots back into Iraq anytime soon is a bad idea. A good idea is to send them to France.

[areafiftyone]

A good idea is to send them to France.

LOL - Sounds good to me!

[Renfield]

"...I am just wondering what they are going to do with all these guys!..."

Remember, kind owners neuter their pets. They're much less likely to fight, "mark their territory", or degrade the furniture if neutered.

[areafiftyone]

Maybe we should put those dishes on their neck. You know the ones dogs wear after an operation so they won't lick their wounds!

[CIBvet]

LOL ... Too bad the Army won't take your suggestion.

[TheLion]

Send them to France...they can feed them!

[DoWhatsRight]

And we wonder why these people are so hard to get along with!