NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2003 — 03-nov — Viewing Item

Iraqi teenages happily watch americans bleed { November 12 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=402582§ion=news http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=402582§ion=news Iraqi teenagers happily watch Americans bleed Wed 12 November, 2003 14:04 By Michael Georgy BAGHDAD (Reuters) - If Washington doubts there is Iraqi public support for guerrillas killing its troops, it should consider the teenagers who happily watched American blood spill. After a roadside bomb ripped through a military vehicle and wounded two soldiers on Wednesday, Iraqi boys rushed out of their homes to survey the damage. "This is good. If they ask me, I will join the resistance. The Americans have to die," said Ali Qais, 15. "They are just here to steal our oil." The U.S. administration has long dismissed the guerrillas as isolated "terrorists" who are Saddam Hussein loyalists or foreign Islamic militants. But the scene in the Sarafiya district of Baghdad suggests they are winning the sympathy of Iraqis, whose joy at Saddam's fall has been overshadowed by anti-American rage. Teenage boys were irritated to hear that two American soldiers were just wounded, not killed. "I saw them pushing their hands onto one of the Americans' chest. They must have died. One soldier's friend was crying," said Abdullah Oman, 18. His fury has been fuelled by what he says is an American desire to humiliate all Iraqis. He even believes that U.S. troops plant the bombs themselves, risking American lives to terrify and kill Iraqis. "They are watching us die and laughing. They humiliate us. They handcuffed me and arrested me in front of my parents late one night because I stood on my house porch after curfew," he said. Guerrillas have killed 155 American soldiers since U.S. President George W. Bush declared major combat over on May 1. In the months after the war, Iraqis voiced frustration with the American failure to crack down on looters and restore basic services. Now talk has turned increasingly violent, especially among teenagers. They have watched American soldiers arrest their fathers and body-search their mothers during intrusive raids. Iraqis are angrier and guerrillas are carrying out more spectacular attacks such as suicide bombings and mortar strikes on the main U.S. compound in Saddam's former palace. Shortly after Wednesday's bombing teenagers in Sarafiya picked up leaflets from a group calling itself the Army of Mohammad. "Patience, patience Baghdad. The occupation army will be destroyed," the leaflets said. Residents of the working-class area watched as a U.S. soldier poured water and sand over the pools of blood from his comrades. "I want to join these Iraqi fighters. I want to hit the Americans, the infidels," said Ali Ahmed, 10.

Blasts rock baghdad near coalition headquarters { November 11 2003 } Bomb at italian base kills 22 { November 12 2003 } Code name iron hammer used by nazis { November 18 2003 } Days death toll highest since march { November 3 2003 } Five explosions rocked central baghdad { November 3 2003 } Forces step up attacks in tikrit Helicopter downed in mosul six dead { November 7 2003 } Iraq oil ministry hotels hit by rockets Iraqi bound and gagged for protest { November 11 2003 } Iraqi teenages happily watch americans bleed { November 12 2003 } Military officials no evidence bodies mutilated Missile hits copter in iraq { November 3 2003 } Money funding attacks on americans { November 3 2003 } Pentagon says soldiers had not been pummeled { November 25 2003 } Rumsfeld said iraqi forces are filling troop gap { November 3 2003 } Suicide bomber kills at least 3 { November 20 2003 } Two americans pummeled by iraqi teens { November 23 2003 } Two young iraqi sisters dead { November 29 2003 } Us bombs van but finds no mortar { November 13 2003 } Us casualties tops 9000 Us launches operation iron hammer { November 13 2003 } Us planes pound saddams hometown { November 8 2003 } Us probes copter crash that killed 17 Us warns of increased iraq attacks { November 9 2003 } Files Listed: 24

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