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| Iraq |
| It's not just car bombs they're using children for |
| 2007-03-25 |
| Al Qaeda in Iraq is using kidnapped children to pick up weapons dropped in battle zones, get past checkpoints and die in car bombs, according to U.S. officials and Iraqis in Baghdad. "Al Qaeda is using children to pick up weapons and ammunition knowing that U.S. troops will not shoot against children," said one U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. There has also been a reported incident in which children were used to drive safely past a checkpoint in order to detonate a car closer to a target. "Men traveling with children in the back of their cars rarely get searched because they look like a family," said Hassan, a middle-aged Shi'ite living in one of the capital's older mixed neighborhoods. "Then they leave the car and blow it up by remote control with the children in it," he said. Hassan, who did not want his full name used out of fear of retaliation, said at one point last year children with Down syndrome had been used to carry bombs. So the Iraqis have noticed, and remembered. Separately... In Baghdad neighborhoods where al Qaeda is believed to have a strong presence, U.S. and Iraqi forces are in the process of building barriers around markets to prevent car bombs from getting in. "There is an al Qaeda-related network that focuses solely on car bombs," said a second U.S. military official, who asked that his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The second military official, who is involved in the operations, also said that in some cases entire neighborhoods are being cordoned off and turned into "gated communities." "In my neighborhood there is some control to stop everything, and it's good, you know," Hassan said. "All the major markets in Baghdad now have concrete shields, so you go by walking. It's good, yes." Terrorists got around the neighborhood choke points by waiting until the American forces left, and then dragging the smaller concrete barriers out of the way. U.S. troops then laid larger 10-foot high concrete barriers down horizontally on top of each other. The terrorists built sand and trash berms high enough to drive over them, acknowledged the U.S. official. "If you stop the car bombs, then there will be motorcycle bombs. If you stop the motorcycle bombs, they will use suicide bombers. The terrorists have a brain -- maybe they will capture a pigeon and put a bomb inside," Hassan said. The only way to stop the terrorists, he said, was for Iraq's politicians to cut off support and money flowing to the Shi'ite militias, Sunni insurgents and al Qaeda networks. Odd that Hassan is the only Iraqi quoted. Odder still that two paragraphs above he's happy about the barriers, here he thinks the effort is hopeless. I wonder if he understood the questions at all, or just nodded yes whenever the reporter asked a question. U.S. forces are hoping that by cordoning off neighborhoods they will cut off the enemy's ability to smuggle in large amounts of cash or weapons. "All we are looking for is a disruption effect," said the second military official. Disrupt them in Baghdad, pound them to pieces in Diyala, drive them across the border into Iran and block their return, until they give up the whole idea of jihad... one way or another. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #4 Although it must be remembered that Al Qaeda isn't beyond threatening or holding hostage entire families in order to get a child to participate. So, then their child goes out, gets killed and they blame al Qaeda who forced the whole issue. Plus, al Qaeda and other insurgents really don't have the time to hold entire familes hostage just to get some kid to play fetch for them. Think of the disproportionate manpower involved. Even if they threaten to come back later, the family should use that time to let the authorities set up an ambush. Iraqis must be made to realize that al Qaeda is not their friend. No better way exists than having their kids getting shot up. Either families are not overseeing their young, unlikely from what I know of Arab culture, or they are knowingly let their kids participate in anti-American efforts. That makes them, right down to the brat, enemies and the sooner more of them are dead, the safer our troops are. Cold-blooded? Yew betcha. Nothing less will win this war. Wars are supposed to kill people, preferrably your enemies, be they men, women or children. Those who are most indoctrinated against America are the likeliest to participate in this sort of crap and it is our duty to make them pay the price for it. Like Patton said: "Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his." If these Iraqi bastards of any age are ungrateful enough to help kill their American liberators, then we are obliged to kill them first. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-03-25 21:51 |
| #3 Although it must be remembered that Al Qaeda isn't beyond threatening or holding hostage entire families in order to get a child to participate. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-03-25 21:21 |
| #2 "Al Qaeda is using children to pick up weapons and ammunition knowing that U.S. troops will not shoot against children," That needs to change. Just as with kids kicking around body parts of our battlefield casualties. Once enough parents bury enough of their children, they'll realize that al Qaeda gets them and their spawn killed. Maybe then they'll begin reporting al Qaeda's actions to the authorities. If not, we will continue killing them and their children until they no longer pose a threat to us, now or generations in the future. These are not civilians, they and their children are active combatants. This is simple chlorination of Iraq's gene pool. Those foolish enough to wade into the deep end of things need to have their DNA fragmented. It is one of the most basic functions of war. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-03-25 16:23 |
| #1 Driving the jihadists out of Iraq and blocking their return is not sufficient. We must destroy all states that harbor or support terrorists aka jihadists. Not invade and rebuild -- destroy. There must be a steep price paid by people who allow their state to be used to such ends. My guess is that after two states suffer such destruction, a lot of people around the world will be strongly motivated to quickly get rid of their tyrannical government. And at home we should try for treason any politician or intellectual who opposes or undermines this strategy. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2007-03-25 02:22 |