March 02, 2003

Human shield Britons quit Baghdad

Almost all of the first British "human shields" to go to Iraq were on their way home last night after deciding that their much-heralded task was now too dangerous.

Two red double-decker buses, which symbolised the hopes of anti-war activists when they arrived to a fanfare of publicity a fortnight ago, slipped quietly out of Baghdad on the long journey back to Britain.

Abdul Hashimi, the head of the Friendship, Peace and Solidarity organisation that is hosting the protesters, told the shields to choose between nine so-called "strategic sites" by today or quit the country.

The Iraqi warning follows frustration among Saddam Hussein's officials that only about 65 of the shields had so far agreed to take up positions at the oil refineries, power plants and water-purification sites selected by their hosts.

What a shame!
This could have been a chlorine cleanser for the human gene pool, at least as far as lower IQs were concerned!
At least these idiots finally got a clue before the bombs actually started falling...
On a cruel note, I hope Winne Mandela's still in Baghdad, though, protecting her "civilian" site.
And check out the Telegraph's scuttlebutt on the human shields' fearless leader "Black Ken" O' Keefe, who bravely gave up citizenship of his motherland (the U.S.A.), but can't give up his mother, who's shielding him in Baghdad:
 
Inside the deluded world of the 'human shields'

Not everyone was upset by the latest turn in events. Ken O'Keefe, 33, the founder of the human shields movement who served as a US marine during the Gulf war, had always planned to protect Iraqi "installations" should bombs rain down on the capital.

During the journey, the heavily-tattooed O'Keefe, who earned the title "black Ken" on account of his penchant for the colour and outlook on life, had alienated his companions who felt he had developed both a death wish and a messiah complex. Prone to tantrums and mood swings, his credibility had not been helped by the fact that he had, for much of the journey, been accompanied by his mother, Pat.

I'm delighted to hear that Ken, the momma's boy, wuss and traitor, will be staying at Ground Zero in Baghdad!
Good riddance to bad rubbish, as they say in the UK.
Take the opportunity to read that whole story cited above: it's a hoot!