Iraqi Delegation Robbed At Gunpoint in Memphis

abc24 ^ | 8/04/04 | abc24

[daybreakcoming]

Anyone got an address? They need their hands cyber-slapped.

[Hootch]

I'm glad I read through the posts before I posted... Memphis is not the most forward thinking town on the planet... Not to offend any Memphoneans... ;)

[saquin]

Who picked the cities to show these Iraqis? Why not bring them on a midnight tour of South Central L.A.? Sheesh. How embarassing.

[armymarinemom]

LOL, I don't know. I do need to email this story to my son in Afghanistan and the one who spent 13 months in Iraq. We still have family in Memphis and they will appreciate the irony.

[Pylon]

Wow, sounds like the time I spent in Memphis. I was glad to get out of that place. Elvis would be rolling in his grave over what Memphis has become, if he was in his grave.

[NonValueAdded]

My question too. Why Memphis? Wasn't this pre-arranged so the feelings of the council would be known? Screw-ups all around.

[TNdandelion]

As a Memphian, well I live in the County where it's a little safer, I can tell you why they chose Memphis if you guys are up for a little more irony.

The Iraqi group was scheduled to tour the National Civil Rights Museum and they were interested in speaking with the Memphis City officials regarding issues between minorities and majorities. Our city is heavily divided down racial lines and any time there is a problem, race cards start flying faster than FedEx.

Surely there was another city like ours that was safer to visit and had a government that actually worked. I guess not!

And the joke about Memphis being more dangerous than Iraq...unfortunately...the joke is not far from the truth. For a city our size, our violent crime and murder rate is extremely high.

I am really embarassed by the behavior of our criminally minded citizens and city officials (aka criminally minded citizens) and the city deserves every bit of the criticism directed this way.

[texasflower]

They were referring to the episode yesterday when they refused to let the Iraqi delegation enter a building.

[VOA]

I am really embarassed by the behavior of our criminally minded citizens and city officials
(aka criminally minded citizens) and the city deserves every bit of the criticism
directed this way.

I'd say that if a local official called John Ashcroft/DOJ and lodged a complaint of
PROFILING in denying the Iraqis entry to a public building...
said official should get a Medal of Freedom.

[jewell]

I am a Memphian too. What has happened to our city is so sad. We are in the top 5 nationally in violent crime. The neighborhood I grew up in was wonderful, but not anymore. People are having a hard time selling their homes in that area now. The taxes are high, but the school system is horrid. The crime rate is high, but city officials won't admit it. Republicans are badly outnumbered here.

It is difficult to realize what an awful reputation my hometown has now.

[GailA]

Memphis is a crime plagued city that is not safe to walk in after dark, regardless of which neighborhood you live in. It is RAT run, RAT controled. The major power brokers are the minority RAT mayor king willie herenton, former super of schools, (wrecked those) his sidekick prince ac whorton another RAT, and the family of US Rep harold ford JUNIOR. joe brown council chair is as flakey as they come..but then so is the rest of the Memphis governing body.

[Captiva]

I hope they stopped at the 'Vous for some ribs.

[metesky]

Following that event two of the delegates get robbed at gubpoints.

The first SOB to pull a gub on me gets it shoved up his add!

[NonValueAdded]

Thank you for that great explanation. With the ethnic and religious divides of their own, Memphis is a very logical choice for the Iraqi mission to visit.

I guess that leaves the question of whether the advance staff messed up or if the City Council acted that way on purpose. As to the robbery, why weren't these people escorted given the general knowledge of crime in the area. Is this a State Department screw up?

[paul51]

I see. Thanks. All in all, a visit they will remember

[stuckinmemphis]

Are we sure it was not one of the council members who was responsible for the robbery (completely possible in this city run by crooks and thieves) To live here is to dislike it more everyday (Fed-ex and Northwest Airlines leave a large work force stuck here). The fact that they came to Memphis to learn about civil rights- what a poor choice, just because we have the museum does not mean this city is a safe place to visit (VISITORS BEWARE).
Oh, and "not safe to walk after dark", not safe to walk during daylight hours either.

[armymarinedad]

I spent the first 40 years of my life in Memphis and moved ten years ago. It sounds like Prince Mongo could be a serious candidate for mayor now.

[tdadams]

Two of the Iraqi delegates were robbed at gunpoint last night on Main Street in Downtown Memphis... The robbery comes one day after City Council Chairman Joe Brown slammed the door in the delegates' faces at city hall.

The group was here to learn about democracy, freedom and civil rights in America.

Boy, are they learning. Not exactly putting our best foot forward.