Mortar attack on Baghdad prison kills 21 detainees

[Robbien]

By Associated Press, 4/20/2004 09:40

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) A barrage of 18 mortars hit a Baghdad jail Tuesday, killing 21 prisoners, the U.S. military said.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the mortar strike hit the Baghdad Confinement Facility run by the U.S.-led coalition. He told a news conference that preliminary reports said all the casualties were prisoners.

He said he did not know if the prisoners were suspected criminals or ''security detainees,'' Iraqis detained on suspicion of involvement in anti-U.S. violence or in the remnants of Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime. He had no further immediate details.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/111/world/Mortar_attack_on_Baghdad_priso:.shtml

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. huh?

Did we fire at the prison or did the insurgents?

[Streetdoc270]

4. Doesn't matter who...

WE are responsible for their safety and security...

[PaDUer]

12. here's what I found...

Twenty-one dead, some 100 hurt as mortar rounds hit Baghdad-area jail

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Twenty-one prisoners were killed and about 100 hurt when 18 mortar rounds slammed into a detention facility west of Baghdad, a senior US military spokesman said.

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the US-led coalition's deputy director of military operations, told a press conference the rounds hit the Baghdad Confinement Facility administered by the coalition at Abu Gharib, 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the Iraqi capital.

entire story-
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&e=3&u=/afp/20040420/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_unrest_jail_attack_040420143300

[wtmusic]

2. Why does the title say 'detainees'

but the first line of the story say 'prisoners'?

Is that just a little sugar to help us swallow what they really are?

[Robbien]

6. In Riverbend's blog

She talks about meeting an Iraqi girl who was "detained" by US troops for a whole year and was held in this prison. The Iraqi girl's mom, dad and brother are still there. The family's house was raided by the US troops because their neighbor was mad at her brother and out of spite turned in a tip to the US that the family was working with the insurgents.

[MaineDem]

3. Good God!

This is spinning madly out of control. Aren't we suppossed to be protecting the country we invaded?

[Mari333]

5. as usual we dont get the truth

this could be abu ghraib, where Michael is, right outside of Baghdad. No one ever tells the truth in this military, and I for one have a right to know it.
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
Kimmit can kiss my ass the nazi bastard.

[Bozita]

7. Abu Ghraib -- it's all inmates

Top Stories - Reuters
Mortar Barrage on Baghdad Prison Kills 21
2 minutes ago

Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents fired mortar bombs at a Baghdad prison run by U.S.-led forces in Iraq (news - web sites) Tuesday, killing 21 detainees, the U.S. military said.


Latest headlines:
· US thanks Honduras for cooperation in Iraq
AFP - 9 minutes ago
· Mortar Barrage on Baghdad Prison Kills 21
Reuters - 11 minutes ago
· Twenty-one dead, some 100 hurt as mortar rounds hit Baghdad-area jail
AFP - 14 minutes ago
Special Coverage
 
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040420/ts_nm/iraq_prison_dc

A military spokesman said initial reports indicated that all the casualties at the Abu Ghraib jail, just west of Baghdad, were prisoners, but could not say if they were held as suspects for criminal or guerrilla activities.


The spokesman said more than 100 people had been wounded in the attack.


In contrast, two of Iraq's most volatile cities were calmer as a truce held in Falluja and U.S. forces prepared to pull back from a base near Najaf, where a rebel Shi'ite cleric is holed up.

[jmcgowanjm]

8. God you're fiesty, Mari333

I want you to be my President.

We'd be kickin' some serious ass.

[mulethree]

11. yes more military mothers in government - goodluck Mari

you must be worried sick

[PaDUer]

13. Which place is he

stationed at? It's not the place where I posted above, is it???

[Mari333]

14. Michael is posted at Abu Ghraib prison.

I have to tell my husband now, who told me last night he thinks he is going nuts because of this. He looks really bad.
god help us.

[TeeYiYi]

21. Hugs . . .

(((((((((((((Mary and Mary's husband.)))))))))))))

TYY :hug:

[Bozita]

9. AAR News: Kimmel said ALL casualties were prisoners

11:00am EDT

[jmcgowanjm]

10. I wonder who was counting the 18?

Let's see, that makes 16, no, 17; hey, there's 18.

Damn, That was alot huh. Did you see where they came
from?

From what I've been able to gather,
Abu Ghraib is basically an extension of
the Baghdad Airport.

Can someone confirm this?

[Mari333]

17. More on Abu Ghraib, where it is

we are holding 12,000 to 18,000 people there with no charges. Our troops are there and most of the kids with Michael said its bullshit and they want to come home
heres some more
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/iraq/abu-ghurayb-prison.htm

[Ilsa]

24. CNN just lied and said there were only 4,400 prisoners.

Please post a new thread when you hear from Michael, Mari.

[RamboLiberal]

25. I see from post below this was the prison hit

I hope to read later today from you Mari333 that Michael and his buds are safe. I think of him and you and your husband a lot. I can't even imagine how it must be to walk around with this fear in your heart every day.

Just what I share with all of you here on DU is tough. I don't understand how these warmongers can seem to feel nothing.

And while some of those in this prison are probably "evildoers" as our idiot CIC calls them, I'd bet most are innocent, just swept up in the madness.

When will these idiots figure out there's no way in hell short of a million or more troops we'll ever control this country.

[jmcgowanjm]

38. Thanx Mari

From the maps, Abu Ghraib can be spelled
several ways. One map has Ghrab, Ghurayb,
and Radwaniyah is placed at Ghurayb.

From your map, the prison looks like it's
at the strategic crossroads controlling
the North, South, West bypasses
and entrances to Baghdad.

Strange place for a prison. In AR, MS, and LA
the prisons are isolated.

[Ripley]

15. Why would the "insurgents" do that?

Were they trying to bust 'em out? Seriously. Why would they attack a jail full of their comrades?

[Mari333]

16. bad shots. mortars have come in before, Michael told us

and killed many prisoners. In the meantime, the mortars could kill Michael. My husband is a mess.
Someone please make this end. please.

[Skittles]

18. hang in there Mari

we've got to get your husband to hang in there. Gawd it must be so tough on you guys.

[Ripley]

19. I wish I could make it end.

Hang on for just a few more months. No way is that fucktwit Chimp getting reselected!! Then hopefully the UN will takeover.

[Mari333]

22. November might be too late

for us anyway
I dont know if my husband will make it that long. Hes so broken , and depressed, I dont think he can survive this. You see, we live in a small GOP area, and have no help here, nothing, we dont know anyone who is going thru this, and its like a nightmare. People avoid us because we are so vocal. Its like we are pariahs because we are anti war, if we were for this fraudulent war we would have friends. But we arent, so we are ignored. when people ask me how I am, I say "not well, our kid is in Baghdad and being mortared"
then they look at me and say "YOU dont know that!" and they get angry.
they obviously dont read, and dont care.
idiots.
I am the only one holding this man up. the only one. Im tired too.

[Ripley]

23. There has got to be a group locally...

Even in my small very GOP southern town there are anti-war groups. Didn't you have any candlelight vigils in your town in the beginning of the war? Maybe you can find them through your local library. I really hope you can find some like-minded people to touch in person, but there are lots of us here at DU that are glad to lend our virtual shoulders.

I think I saw you post about taking prescriptions for your situation. Maybe your husband should see a doctor too. Try meditation. You both need to breathe...it won't help Michael to stress yourselves to death.

Sending as much hope and strength as I can through the computer...

[Mari333]

26. Not here. The one peace vigil they have is

about 10 people who just told me "get a counselor" because I was so angry and vocal. They also told me I was "too political" for them because I carried an anti war sign.
I decided its not worth going to it anymore, if Im going to be judged for being too political. They told me they were worried that my signs would "cause a backlash, maybe a grenade would be thrown at us by GOP types"
fuck em.
No, we dont know anyone who gives a shit. Thats why I post on here. Im too left for this town.

[Skittles]

28. F*** em Mari, who needs em

you have us.

[Mari333]

30. I do thats why when this stuff happens I come on here

thanks. I need to be with people who think like I do. I would move my husband out of here tomorrow, but hes so weak and tired from this he is always crying and always a mess. It would be such a vast undertaking to move, so vast, it might hurt his fragile emotional state. Every time something like this happens, he falls apart. When its quiet, he just waits for the other shoe to drop. so do I.
I sit online and look for somewhere to flee to, another country or something, and then I realize it would be too much for my husband, who can barely drive to town now without welling up in tears.
I am carrying the whole load, and I will, but Im mad and tired. I stayed in bed the other day all day and wrote in a journal. Its all I can do, and I wont drink anything, and I tried to stop smoking, but I didnt do too well.
I wont start a garden this year, I would like to, but I dont have the energy. I dont care about my flowers, I dont care about the lawn, I dont care about how messy the house is, I clean it when I have the time. I just wanted to settle here on these 13 acres and have a gentle life.
I guess we wont be able to have that life now, the 2 of us, taking care of our animals and having gentle times together.
I am angry that we and other families all over the USA are going thru all this for
nothing. For absolutely
nothing.
It didnt have to be like this. A madman, a nazi bastard has done this to us. Done this to everyone.
God damn the Bush administration. God damn them all.

[Skittles]

33. it will be better when Michael comes back

you'll see.

[burrowowl]

42. Mari

can't you move some place? Albuquerque has a peace and Justice and people who are against the war. Santa Fe is too expensive.

[Mari333]

44. Cant get my husband out of here now

hes too weak. I have thought about it tho. I did make him go out to dinner last night, and he realized when we got out of the house, it was a good idea for us to get away for a while from the news. He breaks down a lot and thats understandable, thinking of Michael having to live thru a mortar attack and knowing full well Michael saw and heard so much. No one wants their kid to go thru that. Just wondering how f*cked up he will be when he returns, and the thought of going thru this every day, not knowing, for a year or more, is too much. I might go to San Francisco myself, just for a few days, to get some downtime, and visit a friend, but caught between wanting to get away, and not wanting to leave my husband here alone, in case something happens.
I guess everyones lives are on "hold" now, whose kids and loved ones are over there. its always on your mind, no matter what you are doing.

[bobthedrummer]

45. Fuck them all-they're setting you up, clumsily, because you are a real

American, be prepared for what they might try under your State's law. This isn't like All's Quiet On The Western Front- hey!

They may sign a petition to get you a psychiatric evaluation if you don't see some "counselor"-some communitites disappear the "too political" into the political prisoner filled mental health industry, Mari333, right here in HOMELAND of THE WAR PRESIDENT, George W. Bush.:grr:

You aren't alone, what about those military family support groups that are pissed off too? Get as many friends involved as possible to counter any possible moves against you or your family. that is what real Americans are all about, and the rallying point is the US Constitution, not PATRIOT ACT, Homeland Security bullshit-or, as in your case, "concerned neighbors" suggesting you see a counselor because you are against the war and have a step-son in Iraq.

Stand up for your rights, though-think globally, act locally and just be prepared for dirty political tricks to try to silence you. You are not alone, in fact, most politically aware American citizens share much of what you've expressed.

Bob

[pjordan24]

35. If the UN was to take over what forces would be ...

used to maintain peace. Oh, I believe it would be our troops under the control of the UN. It would not bring our guys out of harms way.

[Ripley]

37. I guess I'm trying to be optimistic

that Kerry (by definition of simply not being the lying shithead who got us in that mess) could get other countries to help "peacekeeping" in Iraq and reduce our burden.

[kera]

40. NOp nop

history has shown that UN peacekeepers have been used only in situation of ethnic conflicts with qualified success, as far as Iraq is concerned, i can tell you that nothing short of Independence can succeed against nationalism...... this is the reality we have to envision and face,

And I suggest that you revise all the bullst we have been fed in terms of shia 60 % of the population and so on . There has never been any census based on religion to beging with and second, population are not divided geographically along schisms lines. Second historically, in Arab countries - where exists a substantial difference with Iranian- clerics have never sought power during colonization, they hve been very accomodating to coloniser to such an extent, taht is until they see the wind turning to the direction of resistance. Sadr movement will fizzle as you may witness soon-



the Kurds have always been hyena type

[John_H]

39. We're fighting with you, Mari. A suggestion for dealing with the fear.

My half-brother is over there now, in a safer place than Michael, but still in harms way. When I start going nuts I try to focus on the fact that the casualty rates are well under five percent even in the most dangerous areas.

As a parent, I know full well that statistics are irrelevent when your child is in harm's way, but it may be helpful to remind yourself that your son has a better than 95 percent chance of making it without a scratch.

In the meantime, we'll be praying for micheal, your husband, and you.

[pinniped]

41. Local news reported they may have been trying to start an uprising...

among the prisoners held there.

[leftchick]

20. Abu Gharib.... 22 dead 92 injured...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=716&e=2&u=/ap/20040420/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Attack on U.S.-Run Baghdad Jail Kills 22
7 minutes ago

By LOUIS MEIXLER, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents fired 12 mortars into Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison Tuesday, killing 22 detainees and injuring 92, U.S. military officials said.

To the west in Fallujah, meanwhile, Iraqi security forces and civilians who fled days of street fighting with Marines began to return Tuesday in a critical test of an agreement between U. S. officials and local leaders to fend off an all-out assault by American forces.

All of those killed or injured in the mortar attack on the U.S.-run prison were security detainees, said Col. Jill Morgenthaler, meaning they were held for suspected involvement in the anti-U.S. insurgency or remnants of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s ousted Baathist regime.

Twenty-five of the prisoners were flown by helicopter for emergency medical treatment, Morgenthaler said. There were no reports that any of the casualties were prominent members of Saddam's regime.

"This isn't the first time that we have seen this kind of attack. We don't know if they are trying to inspire an uprising or a prison break," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told Associated Press Radio.

[Iceburg]

27. No non-iraqis reported hurt, wounded or killed ... curious ideed

[MaineDem]

31. Exactly

Where were the guards? Were they just lucky to not be killed?

:tinfoilhat:

[anarchy1999]

29. I'm afraid this is a powder keg, long fuse has been lit and only a matter

of time. Many being held there unjustly so. After what has transpired over the course of the last few weeks there are many more angry Iraqis with relatives and/or friends being held there.

10,000 to 12,000 on the inside of the fence, just how many troops are securing this disaster? How hard would a prison break be? IMHO, not to difficult. Coordinated attack is quite possible.

Mari, I wish we had a way to get Michael out of there. If it meant hiding him with journalists leaving soon and letting him be a deserter, I'd sure be willing to help. Peace - S

[DrWeird]

32. More war crimes.

The US has an obligation to protect their POWs. They can ship them to the states like they did the Germans and take them out of harms way.

[AmandaRuth]

34. i don't believe a word of it.

They lie to us daily, very skeptical it was insurgents intentionally. Maybe a misfire by someone, but who knows, we sure won't.

[Robbien]

36. There are dozen of attacks each day and the only one we hear about

is this one, and the only people dead are Iraqis. Go figure.

[jmcgowanjm]

43. Theory:Insurgents are targeting the junction

And missed, having to move in/out rapidly.

From the map Mari333 turned me onto
you can see that the Prison is hard up against the junction.

Supplies have to move thru here to
keep energy hungry US up and running
West of Abu Ghraib.

[dArKeR]

46. 'A missile hit the main doors, I started to run' - MG

Mohammed Hassim, an Iraqi police officer in Basra, told BBC television that he was nearby when the bombs exploded.

"I was on duty, the British came and I opened the gate for them." he said.

"Once the British were inside and the post was open, a missile hit the main doors. I started to run. I ran away and so did the British."

It was not certain if the police academy was the same as the one that British Prime Minister Tony Blair inspected in Zubair when he paid a snap visit on January 4 to visit British troops who control southern Iraq.

Reporters who travelled with Blair were told that the site -- a compact, dusty complex of single-storey buildings -- had been a detention centre during Saddam Hussein's regime.

At the time, the academy had 140 recruits who had previously served as policemen in Saddam's regime, getting instruction from by British and Italian police officers. _ Sapa-AFP

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=34461

[dArKeR]

47. 68 DEAD IN CAR BOMB ATTACKS ON BRITISH ZONE IN IRAQ

By Steve Purcell

Tony Blair expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in the House of Commons this morning and said: "The terrorists are becoming sufficiently desperate that they are prepared to attack the most defenceless people they can find."

He visited the attacked police academy earlier this year during his tour of Iraq.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=14166582&method=full&siteid=50143