Iraqi women, children march against (Iraqi) "terrorists"

Reuters | 12/05/03

[kattracks]

BAGHDAD, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Up to 1,000 Iraqis, including children orphaned by the war that ousted Saddam Hussein, marched through Baghdad on Friday to denounce guerrilla attacks and show support for U.S.-led occupation forces.

Carrying banners blaming Saddam loyalists for "terrorism", the demonstrators marched down one of Baghdad's busiest streets before gathering in Firdos Square, where a statue of Saddam was famously pulled down as U.S. troops drove into the heart of the capital in April.

"We organised this demonstration because the terrorists now kill a lot of people," said Abdul Aziz Al-Yassiri, coordinator of the Iraqi Democratic Trend, a recently formed social group.

"They kill the children, kill women, kill the people, kill the police. They want to stop our plan for a democratic system."

It was the second time in two weeks that demonstrators gathered in significant numbers to back U.S. attempts to rebuild the country and denounce guerrilla activities. Another march is planned for next Friday, the Muslim holy day.

Most of those who marched were Shi'ite Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of Iraq's population but were discriminated against under Saddam, a Sunni.

Several dozen young children holding flowers marched at the head of the demonstration while women accompanying them held up placards reading "Terrorism blocks the future for children" and "Children -- innocent victims of terror".

At least four Iraqis were killed on Friday in a bomb blast on a busy street in eastern Baghdad. One U.S. soldier was also killed in the explosion, which occurred as a crowded public bus and a U.S. military convoy were passing each other.

Iraqi police and ordinary civilians have increasingly become victims of insurgents, who strike almost every day.

The Iraq Body Count, an Anglo-American non-governmental group, estimates that as many as 9,800 Iraqi civilians have died since U.S. forces invaded to overthrow Saddam.

Over the same period, more than 500 U.S. and coalition soldiers have been killed either in direct military combat, in accidents or at the hands of anti-coalition guerrilla fighters.

In the seven months since Washington declared major combat over in the country, the U.S.-led civilian authority has struggled to set up structures to usher in democracy, a task complicated by the dogged insurgency.

"No mercy to those who have no mercy towards people," screamed one protester on Friday. "We will go ahead with our democratic process despite these acts."

[kattracks]

Of course, Reuters couldn't report this positive news without adding their usual negative view.

[kattracks]

ping

[samtheman]

Hitlery's considering rushing back to Iraq to explain to these people that it's all Bush's fault.

[Tauzero]

Dang -- the quotation marks are in the original title? Unbelievable.

[kattracks]

Of course, to Reuters terrorists are freedom fighters.

[Constitution Day]

There was a huge furor earlier in this year about Reuters refusing to call people terrorists, I believe.

[No Blue States]

Good for Iraq.

"In the seven months since Washington declared major combat over....

...the liberal press and democrat candidates have done everything they could to hamper our victory, and to encourage continued oppression of the Iraqi people.

[kattracks]

It was the second time in two weeks that demonstrators gathered in significant numbers to back U.S. attempts to rebuild the country and denounce guerrilla activities. Another march is planned for next Friday, the Muslim holy day.

Has anyone seen this reported anywhere in any of the lamestream media?

[VeniVidiVici]

There was a huge furor earlier in this year about Reuters refusing to call people terrorists, I believe.

There still is.

I'm sure Reuters would like to refer to the Baathist terrorists and foreign insurgents as "freedom fighters", but that would probably conflict them too much and they'd have a meltdown.

[Michael.SF.]

The Iraq Body Count, an Anglo-American non-governmental group, estimates that as many as 9,800 Iraqi civilians have died since U.S. forces invaded to overthrow Saddam.

As long as we are keeping score of body counts, why not compare it to the number killed before we invaded?

Would that not be fair?

Well, it is Reuters, an English "news service" and fair is never a two way street for them.

[wayoverontheright]

It was the second time in two weeks that demonstrators gathered in significant numbers to back U.S. attempts to rebuild the country and denounce guerrilla activities.

If American cities were to see similar demonstrations by its own citizens then the terrorism in Iraq would stop.

[Michael.SF.]

Taranto's Wall street Opinion Journal column regularly rips reuters regarding their use of scare quotes and their "famous" comment:

"one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"

If you have not seen it, you should check it out.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks! Will do.

[the Real fifi]

It would help if posters included cites to the posted stories.

[kattracks]

And this is going on in spite of it.

It's the Dims and the leftist media who are causing the terrorism and deaths in Iraq to continue.

[Jack Stephens]

Of course, to Reuters terrorists are freedom fighters.

In this case, though, the quotation marks refer to use of the word by the Iraqi women themselves, so it is nice to see, right?

[TexKat]

Ffox News has been reporting on this and also an article from News24.com/AFP already posted on FR http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1034539/posts

Iraqis march against 'terror' (and in support of US troops/Americans)

[OXENinFLA]

It was the second time in two weeks

Really?

Why did the 1st one get reported?

[kattracks]

I don't know if it refers to the use of the word by the people, or if it's just more editorializing by Reuters.

The use of the word terrorists in the body of the article is encouraging because it points out that the Iraqi people know what the deal is, and who is behind the attacks.

[aculeus]

Shamefully, Reuters CEO is an American, per their site:

Tom Glocer joined Reuters in New York in 1993 as Vice President and Deputy Counsel, Reuters America and was appointed Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Reuters America Holdings in 1995. In 1997 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Reuters Latin America, with responsibility for Reuters operations in Central and South America. In February 2000 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Reuters Information.

He was appointed to the Reuters Board in June 2000 and became Chief Executive of Reuters Group PLC in July 2001.

Prior to joining Reuters, Tom Glocer was a mergers and acquisitions lawyer with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York, Paris and Tokyo. He also has business start-up experience in the development of software for educational games.

Tom Glocer was born on 8 October 1959. He holds a bachelor's degree in political philosophy from Columbia University and a JD from Yale Law School.