Hearts and Minds:
29 January 2004
“The US says they came for weapons of mass destruction and Saddam. They have found no WMD’s, they have Saddam, and we still suffer. We will fight against them all the way now. They have come because of money. They are insulting all of us. Iraqi people have the right to resist the Americans because they are invaders. When they are attacked, why do they always kill others who are not involved?”
“The American’s are treating us like animals. They are raiding our homes each day. They are stealing our money. At least one man from every home here has been detained. Saddam destroyed us, but the American’s are destroying everything we have.”
“We want freedom. We need jobs. I am a teacher, but I haven’t worked since the invasion. They promised us freedom, but they are only giving us prison, killing, and bad treatment.”
Yesterday in Khaldiya, 60 miles west of Baghdad, a powerful roadside bomb exploded killing US soldiers. Iraqi civilians were killed by US soldiers’ gunfire during the aftermath. However, questions about the conflicting numbers as to the number of dead US soldiers and Iraqi civilians remain.
In a CENTCOM press release for the incident, the US Military claims that three task force “All American” soldiers were killed in the blast by the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and one Iraqi killed. The press release also states that one soldier and several Iraqis were wounded.
Witnesses at the scene today told a very different story, as did personnel at the Ramadi Hospital where the civilian Iraqi casualties were taken.
Mohammed (last name withheld), a 25 year old Iraqi man who lives near the scene, said, “I saw 12 US soldiers killed. Body parts were everywhere. There were also at least 5 injured.”
He and several other witnesses said they watched as the US vehicle was exploded by the IED, then other soldiers opened up with gunfire, shooting everything in sight.
Hammad Naif Ermil, driving a large truck, was shot and killed, as were other Iraqis riding in a bus behind him that was riddled with American bullet holes.
Ali (last name withheld), an Iraqi Policeman who witnessed the incident, said, “I saw 12 dead US soldiers. They put them in black body bags and flew them out by helicopters.”
Ali said, “We tried to help get the man out of the bus, but the American’s wouldn’t let us. He died because they wouldn’t let us get him out.”
A man who also lives near the scene of the incident, Abdul Ahkman, said, “I saw 12 US soldiers killed and flown away by their helicopters. We want the American’s to leave. They said they would bring us freedom, but they have only brought us death and suffering. We will kill them all if they stay here.”
electroniciraq.net |
