Marines free 123 from Iraq hellhole (UNBELIEVABLE Alert!)

Straights Times ^ | 4/15/03 | Derwin Pereira

[Steven W.]

FOR three days, American tanks have been shelling a military intelligence building in the posh Al-Khathamia area in west Baghdad.

The dozen or so tanks are not here to pound intransigent fighters but to break down concrete beams and steel, to reach bunkers deep underground at the Al-Istikhbarat Al-'Askariya facility.

The Marines found 123 prisoners, including five women, barely alive in an underground warren of cells and torture chambers.

Being trapped underground probably kept them safe from the bombing of Baghdad by the coalition.

Severely emaciated, some had survived by eating the scabs off their sores. All the men had beards down to their waists, said onlookers.

Most looked absolutely dazed when they emerged, said Mr Sadoun Mohamed, 37, who lives in the area.

'They had not seen sunlight for a long time,' he said. 'They kept blinking and covering their faces.' He said they were taken to the Saddam Hospital for treatment.

Their names were posted on the walls of the Al-Hajabehia Mosque in west Baghdad, as were names of some 40 others known to have been executed or murdered in prison.

Hundreds of anxious locals wait for word of their family, relatives and friends, some of whom were taken away more than 10 years ago.

Outside Al-Istikhbarat Al-'Askariya, Mr Sadeq Al Saeed, 24, a construction worker, has been waiting sleepless for the last 36 hours. He said he had heard the facility had five levels below ground.

He said his father, an Iraqi army captain, was killed in 1991 during the first Gulf War, and his cousins Amer and Jasem and some 50 others were picked out by the secret police for chanting anti-Saddam slogans during the funeral procession.

'That was the last I saw of them,' he said.

'In the night, people raided their houses, blindfolded them and took them away.'

He hopes against hope that the Marines will be able to find his cousins, who were brought here to be interrogated.

This hellhole is believed to be one of many for Iraq's political prisoners. Thousands may still be behind bars though the regime released many criminals from prisons before the war.

The United States soldiers at Al-Istikhbarat Al-'Askariya would not say what they were doing there. Their tanks blocked the entrance.

This place could be part of the labyrinth of underground facilities which might still shelter regime members.

Under one palace, a German-designed 1,900 sq m bunker was built at a cost of US$90 million (S$160 million) with luxurious accommodation for the Iraqi President, his family, their bodyguards and staff.

More than 24 bunkers were identified 12 years ago. There may be more now, located under schools, hospitals, even mosques, and linked together.

The security police, or Da'irat Al-Mukhabbarat Al-'Amma; Iraqi Intelligence Service; and military intelligence, also built cells and tunnels underground.

Taxi driver Hathem Ejam, 36, said Mr Saddam's older son Uday, also used them for his harem discards.

Relaying widely-believed rumours, he said: 'He would pick any young girl he liked from the street, rape her, shave her head bald and then get his guards to dump her in an underground cell.'

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Saddam Hospital

That hospital is overdue for a name change.

And besides, the term is an oxymoron.

[backhoe]

Let's see how the lefties try to debunk this latest revelation! I managed to shut one of them up the other day in a conversation when I compared Saddam's regime to that of Hitler's in Germany. He didn't have much to say after that!

I actually think it's closer to Pol Pot's Cambodia... another modern horror the Left "just doesn't want to talk about..."

[Bahbah]

"some had survived by eating the scabs off their sores."
Oh, God. Help us understand this.

[texasbluebell]

bookmark

[goodnesswins]

"Oh, God. Help"...the LEFT understand this."

[madison10]

Don't know where my post went. They are not the same places.

Link to British troops finding one prison: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/893935/posts

[Malsua]

Geezus, man, Teddy, Teddy, visit bright smile. I get ill looking at your teeth.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I don't EVER want to understand this.

[McGavin999]

No, it's a different one. The Brits are trying to knock a hole into the one in Basra, this one is in Baghdad. I'd be willing to bet there are dozens more around and the Kuwaiti and our own Scott are in one of them.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I've been thinking about, and praying for Scott a lot lately....I wonder too. Now wouldn't THAT be something?

I really do detest the left.

[texasbluebell]

Similar to what is described in one of the articles you posted, Ivan, but another location. Unbelievable.

[mewzilla]

Paging Robert Fisk....

[Scott from the Left Coast]

How about that stalwart Congressman Jim McDermott (scum bag-WA)? Didn't Saddam show you his bunkers when you kissed his a$$, McDermott? Guess not. The only thing Saddam and we agree on, McDermott, is that YOU are a FOOL.

[Windcatcher]

I can see it coming on FNC...

1. Big news: Marines rescue 123 from Iraqi hellhole.

2. DID CNN KNOW AND STAY SILENT???

One wonders...

[BlackBirdII]

I make the case that OLD Ted needs to see a Dentist !

[HighRoadToChina]

BUMP

[Beck_isright]

I would love for one of those poor souls to muster a middle finger and yell in Arabic "this is for you McDermott". But they are barely alive. And the communist fool from Seattle does not care one iota, nor do his ignorant voters and supporters. They are all of the Stalinist breed. And the only reason why I would ever favor birth control on demand. Especially in his district.

[ZULU]

"German-designed "

Ve haff egsperience mit diese tings!!

Krauts, Frogs, Russkis = garbage

[goodnesswins]

I'll bet CNN knew a lot more that they have NOT told.....

[goodnesswins]

LOL....McDermott's district is right in the middle of Gay town.....