Arresting Iraqi Schoolchildren

A follow-up to my earlier post.

A US soldier from Wisconsin, who asked to remain nameless, provided me with the following information on what was happening:

He told me the aforementioned about the demonstration last night, and that IP (Iraqi Police) were in the school trying to catch the kids who were throwing rocks last night.

I asked him if anyone was injured last night at the demonstration, or if any weapons were fired.

"No. Some kids were just throwing rocks."

I ask him how they knew which kids to talk with from last night.

"We had some IP here last night who took photos. They are going through the school to get the kids in the pictures.

...We are surrounded by frenzied students, yelling,

"This is the democracy? This is the freedom? You see what the Americans are doing to us here?"

Another student is crying, and tells us,

"They took several of my friends! Why are they taking them to prison? For throwing rocks?"

They surround us and are threatening to beat us because we are western. Our translator steps in, and they call him a traitor for being with us. As he explains to them we are here to report the truth, that we are on their side, myself and the Hungarian videographer I am with quickly walk away.

...Tanks and hummers that were guarding the perimeter of the school now drive down the street next to us, exiting the scene. Several young boys with tears running down their faces pick up stones and throw them at the tanks as they drive by.

US soldiers on top of the tanks begin firing M-16's above our heads as we duck inside a taxi. A soldier on another tank, behind the first, passes and is firing randomly above our heads as well. Kids and pedestrians in the shops are running for cover. None of us can believe what we are seeing.

A boy holding a stone is standing just on the side of the street glaring at the tanks. Another soldier riding by atop yet another passing Bradley pulls his pistol out and aims it at the boy's head, keeping him in his sights until the tank rolls out of sight.

One of the students, crying, yells to me,

"Who are the terrorists here now? You have seen this yourself! We are school kids!"

All of us in the car are shocked and deeply shaken as we drive back into central Baghdad. Ahmed, our interpreter, is weeping quietly, holding his head in his hands.

Thus far, the public relations officer for the First Armored Division has failed to return our phone calls, or emails.  article