Iraqi Suspect Says U.S. Troops Took Mother Hostage

[RBHam]

By Waleed Ibrahim
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&e=3&u=/nm/20050405/wl_nm/iraq_suspect_dc

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi apparently suspected by U.S. troops of taking part in attacks in Baghdad accused U.S. forces on Tuesday of taking his mother and sister hostage to pressure him and his brothers into surrendering for questioning.

A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said he doubted the accusation and was not aware of such an incident. But neighbors interviewed around Arkan Mukhlif al-Batawi's villa in the capital's Sunni Arab suburb of Taji corroborated his account.

If true, the troops would have offended local sensibilities about the treatment of women; Amnesty International said they could also have broken international law by taking hostages.

Batawi, who spoke to Reuters at the offices of a leading group of Sunni clerics, said U.S. soldiers searched his home on Saturday. When they found neither him nor two brothers also on the wanted list, they arrested his mother and sister, he said.

more...

[opihimoimoi]

1. If this and other incidents come to light, there will be HELL to PAY

Think of how we would feel if our mothers and daughters are taken away..... I know I would be PISSED and if not militant, become one.

[leftchick]

2. One of the women is 65 years old!

:grr:


~snip~

A spokesman at U.S. headquarters in Iraq, who also declined to give his name, said he could neither confirm nor deny the incident. He said he did not find Batawi's account "plausible."


Three neighbors of the Batawi home did corroborate the accusation. They said U.S. troops, accompanied by Iraqi police, had arrested Batawi's 65-year-old mother and a sister who is 35.


"The Americans attacked the house of the Batawi family. They were searching for the brothers. When they could not find them they took the women," said one neighbor, Kamal Abbas.


"Through a translator they told us that they will release the women when the men surrender."

[RBHam]

3. Apparently, some people think, "as long as it works..."

The slippery slope has become a trap door.

[RBHam]

4. page 2 kick

the truth sucks