US mil: women bombers underwent psychiatric treatment, no indication they had Down syndrome

[sabra]

Source: IHT/AP

BAGHDAD: The U.S. military said Wednesday that two women used as suicide bombers in attacks earlier this month had undergone psychiatric treatment but there is no indication they had Down syndrome as Iraqi and U.S. officials initially had claimed.

...

Lt. Gen. Abboud Qanbar, the chief Iraqi military commander in Baghdad, said soon after the attacks that photos of the women's heads showed they had Down syndrome, but he did not offer any other proof.

...

On Wednesday, Smith backed away from the claim about Down syndrome while responding to a question concerning the psychiatric histories of the two bombers.

"Both had recently received psychiatric treatment for depression and/or schizophrenia. From what we know now there's no indication that they had Down syndrome," Smith said, citing records obtained by the military.

...

Police in central Baghdad detained eight beggars, three women and five men Wednesday, but they found few other street people a day after the campaign was announced, an officer said.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, said a joint committee of police and social welfare officials will decide what to do with those taken into custody. Those considered beggars could be allowed to go home with relatives after signing a written pledge promising not to pander in the future, the officer said.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/20/news/Iraq-Bombers.php

[tekisui]

1. DUer Shane from kane called it the day the story broke:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2804572#2804592

[sabra]

2. I guess this means the Iraqi gov't plans to round up everyone who is depressed

:shrug:

[laylah]

3. Well at least

there will be fewer to care for :sarcasm:

[heliarc]

5. And make them buy overpriced Psychotropics. nt

[KamaAina]

4. Look for this to be top news all over M$M 24/7

...um, NOT. :eyes:

[saigon68]

7. Never Happen

Its like the Saddam incubator case

We'll never hear a word about it

[daleo]

6. I wonder whether they had relatives killed by the U.S. military

And that's why they were depressed?