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.'

[mountaineer]

How about that stalwart Congressman Jim McDermott

Didn't W.Va. congressman Nick Rahall visit Iraq last year? Anyone heard from him lately?

[Prince Charles]

Ted needs to drop some coin on teeth whitener, by the looks of the pic.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Nope. They HATE us so much, they hate President Bush so much, they're going to continue.

I fear for many many things....and we all need to crank up the prayers.

[Diddle E. Squat]

bump

[MEG33]

That nails it exactly..world opinion,OH MY

[Free Trapper]

I wonder what the Muslims will think with this happening on Easter week right after another dustup with the infidels.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Seriously? For the most part, I doubt they'll even equate one with the other.

[Windcatcher]

Never. Remember, they're protesting to DISCREDIT BUSH, not to stop the war. It's about Communism (at least for the A.N.S.W.E.R. people who are putting up the dough), not about pacifism or even Saddam. They'll simply switch gears and attack something else, and we're beginning to see it now. They're starting to spray-paint SUVs in northern California, they're starting to protest Bush, etc. If anything, this news will make them even more desperate. Perhaps their numbers will diminish somehat, but I think those that remain will become even more radical, shrill, violent, etc. We are about to see the symptoms of acute leftist desperation.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Good call to Hewitt.

[Dec31,1999]

I suggest you give them some "face", but just enough to let the truly open minded come around. The rest? Well you know what they say...

[antaresequity]

We really need to see confirmation on this...I don't doubt its true but a second source is needed

We have imbeds with the Marines, this should be confirmed shortly

[blackdog]

According to Dan Rather, the prison torture hell hole was just a protective bunker and the men released by our marines are running amock, looting sores and scabs to fill their bellies. The consequences of our troops may result in scab looting accross all of Baghdad.

[Young Werther]

We need to take up a Freeper collection to fund Michael Moore's next documentary. Let's send him to Iraq to "document" this regime. Title, "Bowling for Dinars!" I wonder if he might change his mind and apologize for his statements at the Academy Disswards?"

[Free Trapper]

At the other place they are digging under a statue.

Statues as tombstones?

[tutstar]

ping

[tutstar]

sad sad bump

[Brad’s Gramma]

That WOULD be fitting, in his twisted mind, wouldn't it?

[goodnesswins]

Oh, I have....and I think they'll come around once the facts are presented.....I think they watch too much BBC, CBC, etc.....course they would say I watch too much FOX.

[deadhead]

"Severely emaciated, some had survived by eating the scabs off their sores."

What a horror, Prayers for all who have been rescued from this hellhole.

[monafelice]

BUMP! Pray for these people.
I can't wait to see this in the newspaper tomorrow- I hope this one-newspaper city's liberal rag Hartford Courant will run it.