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| Iraq |
| Jailed Iraqi children run free as marines roll into Baghdad suburbs |
| 2003-04-08 |
| More than 100 children held in a prison celebrated their freedom 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." Cheeze. A jail full of kids... "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. Makes it all worth it, doesn't it? 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." It doesn't sound like they're intended for use against the Marines. It sounds more like the Iraqi version of "Get a rope!" |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #7 Not a day-care...It's the Iraqi chapter of the Dixie Chicks fan club! |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2003-04-08 17:41:09 |
| #6 "Mr. Murat",Please pick up the white courtesy phone.... Can any of you even imagine what this was like? Can anyone protesting this war hear this and not ask themselves what the hell were they doing supporting this nightmare? For those of you who need a little hollywood to help you with the understanding, I recommend episode 9 of "Band of Brothers: Why We Fight" |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2003-04-08 17:16:50 |
| #5 I wonder if this is the place Scotty says he saw but didn't want to talk about because it would get everybody mad at Iraq. I'm starting a pool for when Slappy Fisk declares those kids were American plants. |
| Posted by: Christopher Johnson 2003-04-08 15:38:41 |
| #4 Holy Blackmail, Batman It's the Scott Ritter Daycare Center ?!? |
| Posted by: Dixie Normus 2003-04-08 15:33:04 |
| #3 "Please sir? Can you tell me where Mr Scott is? He was so kind to me when he was here. He said that if I was really nice to him he would help me. But he never came back, can you help me find him? I think his last name was..Bitter, or something." |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-08 15:09:35 |
| #2 Too bad an embedded with a camera wasn't there. This would have made some incredible footage. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-04-08 15:00:35 |
| #1 That was just the Hussain Day Care Center... Please, Sir, May I have some more? |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2003-04-08 14:59:01 |