Iraqis vacate Baghdad in droves

iraq press ^ | 7/30/02

[knak]

Arbil, Iraq Press, July 30 - Tens of thousands of residents are moving out of Baghdad to more secure sites as fears mount that the United States will soon unleash a massive air and missile bombardment of the Iraqi capital.

The fears are real this time as many of them believe that Washington is now serious in its bid to topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

Residents tell Iraq Press they hope the United States will translate its bellicose rhetoric against Saddam into reality sooner rather than later.

Previously, they knew the attacks would only be pin-pricks. But now most of them take U.S. President George W. Bush's vows to bring about a regime change in Baghdad seriously.

The unprecedented security and emergency measures taken by the regime to ward off an attack have added to the anxiety and fear which has gripped the residents in Baghdad.

The threats of an imminent U.S. attack has reportedly prompted many residents to search for alternative and temporary dwellings in Baqouba, Mahmoudiay, Hilla, Karbala and Najaf.

The economy, relying heavily on U.N.-monitored imports of food and other essential supplies, has deteriorated further recently, with the Iraqi dinar hitting lows unseen in the past two years.

Prices of food and other commodities have skyrocket ed as residents are using their savings to buy urgent needs fearing a massive U.S. military attack may lead to a disruption of supplies.

Meantime, the security services have stepped up their measures, blocking major roads leading to sensitive areas like the presidential complex in Baghdad.

Security has been intensified at highways leading to Baghdad and also in areas close to Saddam International Airport where members of the Special Security Force control all the approaches to a maze of palaces and villas owned by Saddam and members of his family.

[RobRoy]

I got about two sentences in and decided to scroll up to see the source.

Then I stopped reading...

[My2Cents]

I love the way we're jerking these people around.

[Bobby777]

I seriously doubt the Iraqi press would be allowed to publish such damning information ... it shows little loyalty for the "beloved" leader ... besides, sat cams would have verified this already to the NSA ...

[Hugin]

Residents tell Iraq Press they hope the United States will translate its bellicose rhetoric against Saddam into reality sooner rather than later.

I take it Iraq Press is run by exiles in Britain? You would never see the statement above published in Iraq.

[ErnBatavia]

I love the way we're jerking these people around.

Yeah, and (tit for tat), they're all sitting around their camel dung fueled campfires having quite a yuk about how we're cavity searching 90 year old women at our airports.....Bombs away, and the sooner the better.

[knak]

Just curious, but what is known about the source? I've read them numerous times and their stories are always on Middle East News Online.

[j.havenfarm]

Tick tick tick. It's time. Let's roll.

[jumpstartme]

[RightWhale]

Then I stopped reading...

Story seems totally realistic.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Residents tell Iraq Press they hope the United States will translate its bellicose rhetoric against Saddam into reality sooner rather than later.

I'm amazed that a story like this made it into the press. Read between the lines. The people want us sooner than later. They can't wait for a regime change.

Saddam's control of the population is in disarray. The iron is hot!

[jumpstartme]

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[demlosers]

Saddam's regime is a house of cards. He better have an incognito escape plan.

[RobRoy]

iraqpress. Not a trusted household name, for me anyway.

[RobRoy]

>>Story seems totally realistic.<<

Might be. But there are certain sources I just don't trust. This is one of them.

I admit that when the boy cried wolf and there really WAS a wolf, I would be one of the ones that would have ignored him...

[andy_card]

iraqpress. Not a trusted household name, for me anyway.

Fine, don't trust them. But they're not affiliated with Saddam in any way.

[RobRoy]

BTW, I hope it's true.

[VOA]

Previously, they knew the attacks would only be pin-pricks. But now most of them
take U.S. President George W. Bush's vows to bring about a regime change in Baghdad seriously.

If I were an Iraqui with satellite TV, there is one thing that would have surely
scared the be-j-sus out of me while watching the American news coverage about
the fight in Afghanistan.

I'd be afraid because I'd have found that Americans generally love Daisy-Cutters (BLU-82)...
and knowing that there has now been about six months in which hundreds of the things
could have been manufactured and on their way to bases all around Iraq.

[RobRoy]

Thanks, I knew nothing about them until this thread. It is definite that I am/was coming from a position of ignorance regarding iraq press and may need to re-evaluate my trust of this particular source.

It is apparent that some who know more about this source than I trust it quite a bit more than I.

It is possible that I was/am wrong.

Please don't tell anyone. All my friends think I'm perfect. But it's getting more and more difficult to keep up the facade.

[biffalobull]

I love the way we're jerking these people around

I really don't know who is jerking who around. Our stock market is down the toilet since 911, our entire economy is faltering because of the massive amounts of war spending, and the Govt. is implementing security acts that are totally unreasonable.

A few more retalitory attacks from these people and we could be in real trouble.