Speaking of silliness:
'Human Shields' Begin Deploying in Iraq
washingtonpost.com
By BASSEM MROUE
The Associated Press
Friday, February 21, 2003; 8:24 PM
Seventeen foreigners bunked down Friday night at a Baghdad water purification plant as the first "human shields" to deploy in Iraq in preparation for a looming U.S.-led war.
The volunteers from Sweden, Spain, Italy and Finland weren't roughing it: Their quarters at the Seventh of April water purification station were a huge room with beds, a television, electric heaters and a large table. The wall was adorned with a picture of President Saddam Hussein.
"We will try everything to get peace instead of war and to protect civil societies," said Ingrid Ternert, a Swedish member of the group.
The volunteers planned to spend only one night at the station, but said others would rotate in to protect the infrastructure installation, which wasn't bombed during the 1991 Gulf War.
Workers at the station were happy with their unusual visitors.
"We welcomed them. I feel happy and it is nice because they want peace for our country," said Hussein Alwan, a 32-year-old supervisor.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday that any Iraqi officials who help in the deployment of the human shields could be punished as war criminals.
Asked about Rumsfeld's remarks, Ternert, a high school teacher, said: "He doesn't know that this is protecting the society."
"We do this because we are very angry," said Ignacio Cano, a bearded Spanish university professor. "Our governments, especially in those countries like mine - Spain, Italy and Turkey - are supporting the war even though the population are overwhelmingly against the war."
Nearby, a woman sat on her bed covering her face with a sweater to prevent television crews from filming her.
Some of the human shields weren't exposing themselves to much danger. Cano said the United States would be to blame if anyone is hurt - but conceded that likely wouldn't be him.
"I will be leaving Iraq in two days," he said. "So I personally think I will be all right."
© 2003 The Associated Press |
