Psyches of Iraq's Children Caught in the Cross-Fire

[deadparrot]

BAGHDAD — Thirteen-year-old Mohammed Khalaf and his younger brother Ahmed had taken a break from their soccer game to collect candy from American soldiers when a suicide bomber turned his SUV onto the boys' narrow street.

Tires screeching, the vehicle sped toward the children at the end of the block. In an instant, there was a massive explosion and 28 people were dead. Among them was Ahmed, whose body was ripped open in front of his older brother.

Mohammed hasn't recovered since that terrible July morning, said his father, Ali Dalil Khalaf, putting a protective arm around the silent boy with large, searching brown eyes.

"What can I tell him?" Khalaf said as he sat with his family on the concrete floor of their small living room.

Mohammed has become another young witness to the daily violence, and his father another adult burdened with loss and the task of explaining new horrors and hatreds to the children of Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/psychesofiraqschildrencaughtinthecrossfire

[bleedingheart]

1. very sad article...

[Renegade Six]

2. 2003

when we rolled in to Safwan right after crossing into Iraq I saw all these little kids standing out side their families straw and dung huts. What struck me was the hope. It was clear on their faces and in their wide eyes. I wonder if they feel the same now. I wonder why I wonder that. I know the answer.

Groups of children would form coalitions attempting to get food from us. It was a direct violation of the rule to give the civilians food or water. The army's rational was that if Iraqi civilians were successful they would never stop. And also all the food was being handed over to the terrorists. I chose to break the rules. What I saw would break your hearts. The bigger ones would ask and give the food to the youngest ones first <5 and 6 yo> who would consume the food on the spot. This went on till everyone got some, or we drove off leaving the bigger kids without. That my friends is fa milty values. These two images will never leave my mind.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Gonna be Afghanistan all over again

Successive generations of traumatized children who have known nothing but war and the deprivations thereof.

[hiabrill]

4. The American Legacy in Iraq ... DEATH & SUFFERING

You need to be deluded to think we'd give Iraq Democracy......


Only memories of Death and Suffering will remain.


Iraq will become a 100% Islamic State, not even close to Saddams secular.

[Brooklyn Michael]

5. Meanwhile, in other news....

....Christian groups, pro-life groups, and other conservative organizations released a group statement,

"Won't someone PLEASE think of the (White) Children?!?!?"

[slipslidingaway]

6. Nom. and a kick for the children, thanks. n/t

[Jacobin]

7. Nah. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is only for Murkin Soldiers

No one is concerned about Iraqis who have had to endure Shock N' Awe (c), torture, incessant bombing by Murkins and insurgents, no water, no electricity, no jobs, no sanitation, all to make them 'free'.

/sarcasm

[lutefisk]

8. Kick for the forgotten ones

How many of the 100,000 dead are like Ahmed?

That could be my child.