Article

2004-04-20 Iraq-Jordan

Mortar Attack on Baghdad Prison Kills 21 Detainees

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve 2004-04-20 9:52:13 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I believe that in some circles incidents like this are referred to as "public service homicides."

Posted by Mike 2004-04-20 10:24:55 AM|| 2004-04-20 10:24:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Why do I think there was probably a prisoner in there who 'knew too much'?

Posted by Kathy K 2004-04-20 10:33:34 AM|| [site-essential.com/] 2004-04-20 10:33:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Kathy, I think you give too much credit to their aiming skills

Posted by Frank G 2004-04-20 10:43:40 AM|| 2004-04-20 10:43:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Kathy, IF there was a prisoner that âknew too muchâ a mortar would be the LEAST affective way of dealing with him. Why not just take him out and shoot him? Shoot him while trying to escape? God I love you kool aid drinkers, you make life (and politics) interesting! Is your real name McKinney?

Posted by Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-04-20 12:04:21 PM|| 2004-04-20 12:04:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I thought the same thing as Kathy when I heard the story. Word leaks out that somebody is singing, and his erstwhile pals try to shut him up. Maybe it kills him, maybe it just scares him silent. If you can't bribe the guards and you have a few mortars in your kitchen cabinet . . .

Posted by James 2004-04-20 1:55:52 PM|| [http://www.idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2004-04-20 1:55:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Who would have the motivation to blow up a bunch of prisoners? (1) their former compatriots who wanted to make sure they didn't sing, or (2) people who hated them and wanted them dead before they were imprisoned, and now have them targetted as sitting (imprisoned) ducks. Any other theories? This seems intriguing to me.

Posted by sludj 2004-04-20 3:56:11 PM|| 2004-04-20 3:56:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 3) numerous but not particularly competent insurgents, who see the prison as one of the few big signs of coalition authority in Abu Graib (fiercely anti-US town between Baghdad and Fallujah)

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-04-20 4:07:32 PM|| 2004-04-20 4:07:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Sounds more like a Jail-break to me. Remember about a 2 months ago terrorists broke out their friends and killed the defending IDF? They couldn't get they're physically, so they took the next option: Blow the walls down from a distance. Didn't quite work out the way they planned though.

Posted by Charles 2004-04-20 5:52:10 PM|| 2004-04-20 5:52:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 The theory at which you arrive depends directly on how smart you think the mortar tossers are.

Posted by Anonymous4381 2004-04-20 6:33:05 PM|| 2004-04-20 6:33:05 PM|| Front Page Top

16:16 Glyph
23:48 Alaska Paul
23:17 Frank G
23:11 Frank G
23:09 Not Mike Moore
12:30 AntiPasto
12:27 Antiwar TROLL
09:43 muck4doo
07:04 Shipman
07:02 Shipman
07:01 Shipman
04:22 Jen
04:18 Bulldog
04:07 Jen
04:04 Super Hose
03:36 Jen
03:14 Super Hose
03:11 Super Hose
02:49 Jen
02:46 Jen
02:43 Jen
02:40 Jen
02:19 Not Mike Moore
02:07 Not Mike Moore