Thursday, January 04, 2007
Iraq - The Children
It was just an idea – talk to kids. Find out what they think of the war. When you interview adults here in Iraq – you often get a filtered view of reality. On the other hand, kids can’t lie. They will always tell you the truth – and really, it’s the truth we’re interested in. So, one morning I set out in the neighborhood looking for kids to talk to. With me, the over talented cameraman Dominic Swann – neither of us had a clue if anyone would talk to us. Our fixer kept smoking – shaking his head, letting us know that this in all likelyhood would be a failed mission. Of course, it’s Baghdad so our other options were try this, or sit in the office and wait for the violence and live shots to begin. It took over three hours of talking to people before we found a 16 year old boy who was willing to tell us his thoughts. His first one, “Saddam was better than the Americans.” We’re off to a great start – I thought. “Any hope for Iraq” I asked. “None,” he said.
“This is going to be a very uplifting piece” our stringer said immediately. Such is Iraq. Kids in Iraq are wonderful. They run the same routine anytime they see a foreigner. First they send a scout. He appears from no where – checks out the situation, then disappears. Depending on his report to the others, flocks of kids start to arrive. In this case, there were at least a dozen. One became the leader. He pointed out everything that had changed – the trash, the blast walls – the western security. He told us he wished he could play football without fearing for his life. I asked one final question to the group that had arrived. “How many of you have lost family members in this war? Everyone raised their hand. “Welcome to Iraq,” said my stringer. 104 Comments
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this is the reality of the war.. so sad.. I always wonder if less lives would have been loss if Saddam was still in power. Sure, he went around killing innocent people, but isn't it the same as what is happening now? Innocent people are still being killed, perhaps in even greater numbers than before. At least back then there was some resemblence of law and order, rather than a country completely in anarchy...
Yea, Saddam only murdered 8,300 Iraqi's per month, thus the mass graves. You would have to be a blind fool to think Saddam was better at anything.
At least children were in the streets! Isn't that one of signs the military looks for to make sure an area is safe or stable? And a 16 year old?! What 16 year old anywhere in the world wouldn't have a negative, critical comment as opposed to a positive one? How old was he when Saddam was in charge anyway?
Don't try and make this story sound so innocent.
I think context is important Mr. Perry. I have served in Iraq and understand the forrors that face all people (not just children) on a daily basis. When you ask a person a simple question the answer may be a simple reply. But, the truth is clouded by perception in each individuals mind. If the truth was what you really seek ask your questions in a manner that reduces the filters of the situation. How many 16 year olds were alive to see the initial crimes Saddam was convicted of, and executed for? How many children can discern the difference of tyranny and sacrifice? War is a horrible occurrance, and death is one result of many. Luckily for the children of Iraq there are a group of people who put aside there personal filters and maintain a steady course towards an Iraq who is free of "rule by fear" and able to give its children a brighter future that will out shine the darkness of their past. Oh that particular group are the men and women of our armed forces, who I am a veteran of. I emplore you to remain objective as a professional journalist should
A 16-year old isn't going to value the freedom and liberty achieved, nor look at the future and what benefits will appear in 10 years.
Que pregunta est�pida !! Por supuesto que la vida con Sadam Husein era mejor que los Estados Unidos, inclusive sin libertad !!!!!
Why didn't you ask them how many had lost friends, relatives or fellow Iraqis to Saddam Hussein.
2 sides to every single story, my friend. Be safe and thank you for your work.
I guess if you approve of the war you can find anyway to spin a story. The truth of the matter is, kids don't think about what will happen 10 years from now, they live in the present and the present is not a pretty picture. I think he said Saddam was better than the Americans is because truthfully, anybody would be better than what we're doing. This is not an insult to the military because they're just doing their job, but the leadership is clueless. Unfortunately, there's no end in sight and these kids may never feel safe in their country.
I find it intersting that even in the face of the obvious harm in the wake of this war, readers would disregard the comments because they come from a 16 year old. It reminds me of the old saying, children are to be seen, but not heard. These children know the truth of their lives, they are living them and to dismiss their views because the are contrary to your perceived or hoped truth from several thousand miles away is disrespectful.
Isn't honesty refreshing. The reality on the ground in Iraq is one of death and hopelessness. They are a occuppied people. This 16 year old has never know the Iraq before sanctions started; before the war. The state of Iraq is the outcome of US policy. I have learned to take responsibility for my actions, when will the US?
Very well done. You should do many more interviews with children. This boy was very intelligent and tried to express himself with limited English, but it is clear what he was saying and it is what many of us have been assuming to be the truth all along, but it took a 16 year-old to make the point.
Kids in iraq lie just the same as kids everywhere.
And even the "truths" they yield can only be as valid as the information stuffed down their throats by their parents. Also, the fact that every single one of them raised a hand could also suggest that they're all related. Not uncommon in neighborhoods. Not that I'm trying to undercutthe magnitude of the civilian losses... i'm just sayin that you failed to make it very clear.
It isn't just the 16 year-olds saying that they are unhappy and fearful of the current state of their country - it's almost everyone. Even though freedom and liberty are admirable goals, as the saying goes, the ends do not justify the means.
Baghdad Stable? not even close. The kids here try the best they can to have a life- they have to take risks just like adults- they don't have a choice- they have to leave their houses sometime, even if there is a chance they will get caught in the violence. Whether its the fault of the US or not- there is some truth to the fact that things were better when the dictator was in power-- the bad guys were afraid of Saddam- they do not seem to be afraid of the US Military and they will continue to murder their fellow Iraqis because for them, there is no rule of law or consequences for their actions.
Everyone is a kid, if you strip whatever *isms you have learned from your adulthood. Just think like an innocent kid, and you would also get the same answer a kid would give: What do we want? not whatever ideology, not whatever symbols, just a normal life. So, in this sense: how many people suffer? how badly they suffer? Wake up!
I'd be interested in knowing how the Kurds feel or those outside of Baghdad, or those who have had family members tortured by Saddam. This is media bias....again.
It would be interesting to know what the juvenile detainee population thinks about the current situation in Iraq.As part of the Unit that closed the infamous Abu Ghraib prision, I was charged with relocating families and releasing over 2,000 detained juveniles from the Baghdad Central Correctional Facility aka Abu Ghraib,as part of a program to make room for the new facility near the airport. Until now I havent seen any coverage of these misplaced juvenile detainess ranging from 12 to 18 years of age.A story dedicated to these juveniles and to hear first hand what their views on the war and the current situation in Iraq would be eye opening to say the least.
"A 16-year old isn't going to value the freedom and liberty achieved, nor look at the future and what benefits will appear in 10 years."
First of all, that 16-year-old knows more about the value of freedom than you do... you never had to live without it. Benefits in 10 years, huh? So you have a crystal ball? Apparently there are indeed people besides Bush who think murdering Iraqi civilians was and still is a good idea.
May your first-hand stories disillusion a nation who tends to believe that Iraq has achieved liberty as a result of the American invasion. Please interview more 16-year-olds in an attempt to prove to the world that a sixteen year old Iraqi whose quotidian concern is survival, tends to be significantly worldlier than his or her American counterparts whose main concern is entertainment. More power to you, Cal!
Thank you for this article. Maybe it will open some people's eyes. Maybe we will realize what this war on terror actually caused. Our country wasn't attacked by these people, yet, they suffer now. Wow, what a great nation we are. What a wonderful leader we have. As BUSH said it so nicely, we are not peace keepers, we are piece makers. We are making sure this country is going to fall into pieces.
how sad --- Saddam was crazy but at least the Iraqis had jobs and weren't watching their family memebers be killed on a daily basis. The kids that were interviewed will one day be running the country and I can guarantee you that they won't think highly of Americans. Why don't we get it .. they don't want to be like us !!
Things will eventually get better and democracy will win in Iraq. Yes violence is probably worse now than it was before but in will eventually end. Yes the 16-year old kid is probably telling the truth, but ask any American 16-year what they think of their country and I will guarantee that is negative. We Americans need to stay the course and bring a better life for the future of Iraq.
Benefit, what benefit? We've been there for over three years and you see any benefit? At this rate, that boy is going to join his dad and uncle at a grave site in 10 years.
No one is expecting some dramatic insight from a teenager, yet you can get a sense of their desire for the simple things. We cant even get any decent insight from our president or civilian DOD leaders. As for Rae's comment, I don't think anyone is valuing the "freedom and liberty achieved", Where is it? What happens in 10 years, how about what happens next week?
Congratulations, you've been used. You're a tool.
What you didn't report on were the Muj snipers ready to shoot the kids if they thought the jihadi line wasn't being parroted.
I can only imagine the same scenerio occured during the civil war. It is my hope that this war will be worth it also.
A 16 year old sees HIS country destroyed, he probably can not go to school beacuse it was destroyed, his father (if still alive) may not have a job. He lived under a dictator but his country was at peace, no bombs every day, sunis, chiities... all lived together. He sees his reality, one that the older people may not have the courage to explain.
A 16-year old tells the truth which nobody wants to hear due to one's vested interests.
Any chance you'll report something positive that doesn't cater soley to the anti-war crowd? Ask the Kurds, I'm sure they're glad they won't get gassed again any time soon. But hey, Saddam was better than we are, after all CNN says so. Try looking at what the men and women in uniform over there are doing for these children, I suppose giving them food, clothing, toys and hope for a better future isn't worth reporting either.
You cannot disregard the opinion of a person merely because of his age. It's narrow-mindedness like this that gets us into conflicts like that in Iraq to begin with.
Comparing a Western teenager to an Iraqi teenager is an unfair comparison. The most telling observation would be how many of the children would have raised their hand to the last question posed before the U.S. invasion as opposed to now? Indeed, the future of those children is irrevocably changed. U.S. actions from this point forward give us an opportunity to help define that answer.
The issue here (Iraq war) is not neccessarily about the value of freedom tommorow, nor about the mistakes of yesterday. It is about TODAY. Today, thousands of innocent people have perished. Today, that 16 year old kid does not feel a sense of safety in Iraq. Today, that kid feels like he is a goat ready for slaughter at any point in time due to the bombings in the city. If the purpose of the war is what our leaders are peddling, then why don't they go and fight other dictatorship regimes?
yeah way to interview one child and say it reflect what all children would say. give me a break what child wouldnt be scared anyways. alot of the mhave no idea whats going on. all i know is when i went to iraq all 3 times i cant recall a single child not following us and us giving them candy. "wow we sure are jus tas bad as Saddam" give me a break. cant beleive this is a story.
Also who is surprised that the children raised their hands when asked a question about loosing a family member. It is a war, is it not? Did that question give the children, or viewers any significant understanding about the reality of war. Stating the obvious and using children to do so seems like a weak maneuver in part of the journalists and CNN.
The grim reality of this illegal invasion but I am sure that there will ne many Americans who will pooh pooh all of this becuase they cannot accept reality. I am willing to bet that during Saddam's reign if you had asked the same question to the kids of that age, not many could have raised their hands. The objective of US invasion was not to give Iraqis freedom but to destroy Iraq -once a secular country where everyone including women had freedom and also freedom to practise their religon.Yes it was ruled with a firm hand. What has the US made out of Iraq? Dead people do not need any freedom. A nation has been destroyed. A crime against humanity has occured.
To think that more lives would have been saved if Saddam was still in power is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're talking about a dictator who would kill you for speaking out. That's not freedom and it's not better than the current situation. Our troops risk their lives daily and to think that there are people in this country that will sit here and give them anything but the support and the respect they deserve makes me sick. The situation isn't perfect over there, nobody thinks that, but our troops are doing their job and the changes that need to and that will be made don't happen overnight.
The saddest thing about the folly of war is that the children suffer the most. What's truly sad about this war is that millions of us were out demonstrating against it before it even started. One wonders how it is that so many of us understood the proverbial Pandora's Box ramifications while our leadership, Democrats and Republicans alike, couldn't. To my friend in Johnson TN don't you think it's pathetic that Iraq's children have become the proverbial bird in the coal mine? I found your crassness disturbing. I wonder how you would feel if it was your family living the reality of Iraq after a forced, illicit take over by a foreign power? Unfortunately that that 16 year old boy may become just another victim in a civil war that WE helped launch through our misadventures.
With due respect to opinion of Rae of Johnson City who seems to be discounting the opinion of a 16 year old Iraqi kid (who have endured more hardship in his short lifetime than many Americans could have wish for. I disagree completely with him. Any person, whether a kid or adult would choose the basic needs for survival first before freedom. There are a lot of countries that do not have the same freedom as we do. But they seem to be doing ok. The point of the article is that Iraq is better off while Sadam was incharge. Ask any Iraqi, not Americans. Even if we are right which we are not, we as Americans should not try to force our ideals and way to everyone in the world. We were wrong in Vietnam about the fear of Communism spreading and we are wrong again to try to promote democracy in a country such as Iraq.
"On the other hand, kids can’t lie."
Not quite true. Not only do they lie quite readily but they can lie best of all because, like you, we tend to believe them.
"kids can’t lie. They will always tell you the truth"
What planet do you live on? Have you ever had kids? Been a kid. Although I laboured on to finish the blog, I should have stuck to my initial suspicions after reading this "lie" of a statement.
A 16 year old counts his dead relatives, what is freedom if your loved ones are being killed. Iraq is far worse off than it ever was. There are no benefits from this illegal invasion and there won't be, as peace will not be achieved as long as Iraq is occupied.
You got two comments from kids...why is that a story? Compile about 25 of them and it will be worth the time to read.
Personally, I think "talking with kids" is the VERY BEST way to get in touch with what is REALLY GOING ON in Iraq!!! The younger the better! 16 is already verging on "way too old" to get unbiased info. May this be the start of a HUGE and all new angle to this war's coverage! Hurrray! The Angels must have whispered this idea into your ears!!!
I am sitting here trying to think how I would view the Americans IF I were seven years old, IF I were Iraqi, IF I were not educated to realize that IN war things are different than twenty years AFTER war, and IF I were not an educator who has at least some concept of how teenagers always think that yesterday was better than tomorrow when they have a stage to use...know what? I have no answer to give the American journalist, but I DO have a question...what EVER made you think that this was a good piece to write in the first place? It failed miserably!
Until Iraqis agree that they have more freedom and liberty than they did under Saddam, we Americans need to stop being so smug. Anyone who reads the news knows that Iraqi citizens are in pretty dire straits.
Hopefully the teenager will appreciate Saddam's absence when he's raising his own children in a free Iraq and he's able to vote a democratic leader into office.
Sadly a very superficial article. Perhaps should be headlined - Iraq -one child
Any chance of a more expansive view of quite a few more children or youths ?
It is fair to allow that a 16 year old would have some sense of whether things are getting worse or better,his opinion is probably no more or less accurate than most of the adults. The telling comment though is that everyone has lost someone in their family. The social turmoil in Iraq will likely equal the social disruptions of Europe after WWI or the US south after the civil war. A WWII vet who walked across Germany with Patton told me "the last thing you want to be is a civilian in a war zone." The people with the biggest problems are the average people in Iraq who are trying the survive day by day. May God have mercy on the kids of Iraq.
Yes, I may live in America. I am a teen and I enjoy and adore the freedoms that I have in this beautiful country. Who wouldnt want freedoms and liberty? Its a beautiful thing our ancestors have gained in this country! It's too bad the rest of the world can't live the way we do. Yes, a 16 year old cares about their right to liberty and the benifits they will have!
A story from an interview with one 16-year old in Iraq cannot tell the whole story.
I continue to see photos of Iraqi children being friendly with U.S. troops, but I do no see any photos of them being friendly with the insurgent murderers!
Freedom has always come at some price. We as Americans have forgotten, sorry chosen to forget the sacrafices of our fathers. Germany, Japan, France,better today or in the 1940's? Freedom has become very under-rated
Great idea but recast the story with perhaps 30 or 40 kids casting their opinion. By the way 16 hardly constitutes a kid - look for opinions from pre-pubescent kids. Notwithstanding my heart and prayers go out to the whole torn up country
The pictures show little kids, but the comment is based on one 16 year old.
I'd like to know what kids think, but this article is almost too limited to mean anything much. How about a credible survey?
It's incorrect to say kids can't lie -- that they always tell the truth. Some are seasoned liars, but in this case it's most likely that what they were saying is what they really believed. Who can blame them?
In the long run, only time will tell us if it was all worth it or not. We can only hope one day the war will end and democracy will prevail. Almost never has life gotten better while still in the midst of war.
So, where are all the questions and answers? That's all? Comments from 2 kids? A good idea yes, but not very in-depth reporting.
Do not judge the intelligence of a person on his age. Generalization is easy to do because it simplifies everything but perhaps not all teenagers are angry, depressed and vindictive. Wow, what a novel thought, eh? I am not a cynic nor am I an optimist, I am a realist. What is happening in Iraq is tragic. 'Freedom' and 'liberation' are not the terms I would use to define the U.S's intentions or achievements. They are the ostensive ones. It is a new kind of oppresion, cultural misunderstanding and political and social chaos that rules Iraq now. I believe the 16 year old boy - who's life is enveloped in this 'war' he witnesses first-hand - is a bit more accurate in his honest descriptions than an American civilian's filtered view of the chaos in Iraq.
"Kids can't lie"?! I love kids as much as anyone, but oh please. Have you ever even MET a kid before? Do you live in Disneyland?
By all means ask kids for their thoughts on the war, but reading a statement like that instantly destroys all journalistic credibility for me.
How about reporting on how their lives have changed since our invasion. Do they have enough food, water, housing? Are they going to school? Is there a future?
This is the most rediculous piece of propaganda ever printed. If I fill my child's mind with my ideas, that is what you will hear when you ask him. Stop the spin and focus on ethical journalism.
It's such a sad thing to see these children being subjected to such violence at this age.
I think the importance of children's answers are that they are 'real'. Sure they might not understand the situation fully, but they can give honest feelings about themselves (and even other family members).
I wonder if this teenager comes from a Sunni or Shiite family? I'd bet Sunni given how he holds Saddam in such high esteem... and how he sees the future as hopeless under a more equitable system.
Did it ever occur to you that the 16 year old kid isn't old enough to really know how things were under Saddam? Besides, at 16 he's only saying what he hears his parents say. Shame on you for trying to exploit the children in the name of "honesty".
Three hours in the field . . . and you are able to solicit only a single comment from a 16 year old? Very thorough, CAl! We now know what a single Iraqi young adult thinks.
HELLO YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO TALK TO CHILDREN 16 IS A TEENAGER! If you want to find out what children really think talk to a 4,5,6,7, or 8 year old. My unit just got back from Iraq and i can tell you that there was so much joy from the families as they provided medical care to them, and the thank you's are over whelming. . . how about you all stop trying to make this war look more horrible than it is and show stories on the positive that is coming out of this....did you think to do a story on the soldiers in afghanistan (yes we're still there too) who rebuilt a school and had all new supplies within 2weeks of the taliban bombing it? Be the first to take a new positive approch to the war, make a stand!
I find the young mans insight to be telling. This is a young man who knew no other leader other than Saddam for the first 13 years of his life .He has now had 3 years of Saddamless rule. What a mistake we made in believing(yes I was one)the altered intelligence provided by our leadershiip(meaning Bush). I find it sad that some of the comments made here seek to lesson this individuals ability to portray what is happening on the ground in Iraq. It is sad that all of these kids have lost members of their family. I wonder if that many hands would have been raised prior to the invasion of Iraq. I can only hope that somone with much more insight into reality can help solve this quagmire we have created.
Yes isnt democracy great. Saddam is dead but whats changed in Iraq. People are still dying, and likely in greater numbers than before. Iran is stonger thanks to the US, since we have destroyed her greatest enemy. This sixteen year old is a lot smarter and more truthful than most people.
From the mouths of babes.
They long for "normal" as we all do, and for those they've lost, and for peace. How DARE anyone suggest a 16 year old, who has obviously lived more life than ANY of us, does not know what he is speaking of! What world have WE left the children? We have left them nothing, not even hope. I speak of the children of the entire planet.
US authorities should read it and review their policy in iraq, the hate against USA in iraq is creating a very bad immage of USA in the world, the wise people of USA advice to US government to quit from Iraq not only in the inteest of Iraq but in the greater interest of USA
Maybe a 16 year old doesn't appreciate the 'liberty' of having car bombs going off in his city everyday, or the 'freedom' of having his older relatives locked up by Marines for the crime of being male, Arab and Muslim.
Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't appreciate that either.
The story here is the children, and we all know children - for the most part - will tell it like it is. Their comments should be considered seriously by our legislators. If we reach the children, we may have hope for the future.
In the next 10 years? Do you really think that he thinks he'll be alive in 10 years? All of them raised their hands saying they've lost at least one family member during the war.
I think the "Saddam was better" comment was weird but when you actually think about it, it was peaceful... as long as you and your family kept your mouth shut.
I also believe I read..."children can't lie". I don't think you were referring to 16 year olds when you made this statement. I can also assume that you definitely were not talking to the Kurds or Shia, which make up 80% of this country and were all against Saddam and happy to see him go. Why don't you give all of the facts of who you're talking to without hiding behind looking for only what you want to hear.
The future of these kids are destroyed by war. Many Iraqi families are displaced due to sectarion violence or our occupation. The infrastructure is in shambles. Access to food, education, work and healthcare -- things most of us take for granted -- aren't really there for them.
Saddam is a bad guy, no doubt. But I'm sure if you put most Americans in a similar situation as Iraqis currently are now, most of us would choose stability and safety over freedom and liberty. Isn't that why we've allowed the government to erode away our civil liberties after 9/11? Less freedom for more saftety? Ironically, some of our allies in this war on terror are not exactly democratic governments nor have stellar human rights records. Look at Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia.
It's sad when you can't trust the children. You never know who has a bomb or gun ready to kill you. BRING HOME THE TROOPS!
That's right, bring America down yet again. We are the cause of all the worlds' pain afterall. Why didn't you ask those who suffered under Saddam what their views are on the situation. Yeah, it isn't pretty but one must look long term and I am hopeful for the Iraqis, and still hold hope for us in America!
It never ceases to amaze me, how many people STILL think you can just go into a war situation, and in just a few weeks, months, whatever, think that all the problems will be solved, and are troops can come home. This is NOT a video game, and I believe our President said this is going to take a LONG TIME. I spent 3 tours in Iraq, and each time, I saw good, and improved areas, that NOBODY seems to mention. Come on CNN, quit the BIAS BS, and report the TRUTH.
"Kids don't lie" - really? - I'm still trying to find out how the red stain on the carpet got there. To hear a 16yr old be so pessimistic doesn't seem odd -- we, the USA, don't give our own youth at home hope for a better future (ask an inner city 16yr old from Washington, DC). I doubt you'd get a response in which the teenager sees him/herself 10yrs down the road with a family, good job, and a positive future. My brother served in the first Bush-lead war with Iraq and was sent into battle without proper equipment/supplies (at one point, he and his buddies sat on a line with guns, but NO bullets while Iraqis walked towards them -- thankfully to surrender!). We went into Iraq with a cowboy attitude, ill-prepare (yet again), bad intelligence, waving the flag of freedom. If we're EVER going to "get the job done" other nations need to step up their assistance -- and our, USA, leadership needs to get out of the way and let them help.
How sad, that every child in that group had lost at least one family member in the fighting in Iraq.
What always amazes me is their resilience, that they can still smile and play, despite all that is going on around them, and to them. I am in awe of the human spirit, which can take so much and withstand so much. Especially the children. Humans, over the centuries, have lived with war in virutally every part of the world. Even the Bible talks of "a time for war, a time for peace." Everything in its season. Will there ever be peace among all peoples? My heart tells me, probably not. It saddens me to say that, but I believe war, in some place or other on our lovely planet, will continue. And our children will continue to survive no matter what. I'm glad you're talking to the children. They do have so much to say, don't they? Thanks.
A 16 year old is NOT a child. He is a teenager who has been listening to his parents and family and has been indoctrinated into their beliefs. If his family was against Saddam, he would have been rejoicing that Saddam is dead. America is cleansing and clearing out the horrible effects of a cancer that has plaqued that country for years. At least they have hope for democracy and freedom in the future years to come. If we succeed, he will not have to worry that someday he or HIS son will be murdered by an insane dictator who went off on a whim. Americans are sacrificing their lives in order to give this young man and all Iraqi's HOPE and freedom, a brighter future. Even if we fail, at least we tried to help these people. We left Hitler alone. We GOT Saddam. May God bless you in your efforts and may God Bless America.
If the Iraqi's want a Saadam style dictator back in power, they have the power to do so through the free election process that is part of the democratic governing structure in their country.
The Iraqi people will eventually learn that in a democracy they are the one's who will make a difference in their lives and they now have the power to go out and do it.....for example, they need to work with their government to fight and root out the insurgency. Right now, they are choosing to take sides and promote an nonunited Iraq. The reality is, that under their current system they have every right to partake in such division, however, they need to realize the blame for their state of affairs shoul be on themselves. Once the people decide they have had enough and elect leaders who do not promote religion over the state (sectarian violence) only then will we see change. The Iraqi people have the mechanism, the issue is....are they smart enough and ready to make the necessary sacrifices to use it. I for one believe that is more of a cultural issue and believe it will only change once the population in Iraq decides not to be led by the nose by their electorate using religion.
I read the article. I also read the comments. There are so many who, because of their own political agenda, are quick to dismiss what is said by a "16 year old." These are the same people who have sacrificed nothing for this war, have enjoyed the tax cuts, enjoyed the fact that their own loved ones are not affected by a "draft." They scurry around in their day to day lives never once thinking of the death of innocent children in Iraq. Folks, this is NOT a movie where only the "bad men" are killed, children, yes, children are killed everyday, and the "media" almost never speaks about that. The U.S should have never gone into Iraq, and those children, as young as they are, realize it.
As a reader I consider which tribe neighborhood did they interview in. This was omitted.(A as reporter generating more factual based info I would have gone to the University level(Where now women and men alike attend) where Sunni's and Shiite young adults congregate to build a better future and hopes for tomorrow- they have invested stock in the present situation more than a child who only knows death and family life as their world. A reporter with skills to generate, news/ fact based info would have started there, not on some street... like the inquirer.)There is a very minuit number of diverse communities in Baghdad- statistically this would have a disembalanced point of view given this fact. Sunni's and Shiites do not dwell in the same areas. With this in mind, it would be much like going to the opposite side of the tracks of oppression and asking anyone what they feel the equality was from their point of view. Sunni's are now being oppressed (where the strong majority during Saddam's reign) as they see it since they are no longer the stronger majority of the community- life is very negative. They are to possess an equivalent share in the word community- Sunni's and Shiites don't play well typically (proven fact). I can only presume the interviews took place in a Sunni Neighborhood given the negative feedback, children regurgitate what the adults express privately indirectly. Try it and home and ask your own child. Psychologically they will have a similar view of the parents political view...
CNN please improve your fact based reporting, you are begining to sell out like the Inquirer.
If you asked a 16 here, in america, how things are going here, you would get the most uniformed negative comment ever, because they watch E! entertainment, shop at target every day, and talk on cell phones instead of getting educated.
Asking 3 kids in iraq isnt reporting on anything.
Out of the mouths of babes...thank God there is someone, somewhere in the entire country of Iraq who is speaking the truth-even in the middle of a civil war.
These voices are the most meaningful, honest and truthful... voices of children. And this entire war is just one bully taking down another for control of the playground. It is not about wmd, freedom or democracy.
I went into Baghdad during the invasion. We stopped to refuel by hand and Iraqis came to talk to us. Engineers living in the countryside asked about jobs. There were no jobs. I gave 4 families $200. In Baghdad, we stopped 180 trucks downtown for 1.5hrs. No one died. Now that would be suicide. First they waved, within 2 weeks we'd cut off their food supplies and they were throwing rocks at us and shooting our food supply convoys inside of 6 weeks.
After 4 months the roads were too dangerous to use the same route twice. Iraqi army soldiers were rioting for $50 handouts from the OCPA government. Once you've caused a train wreck, you can't apologize and just put the train back on the tracks and expect no one to notice. We lost the war in June, 2003. It's just taking realization some time to sink in. SSG Dana K. Beausoleil
A recent report showed that only 5% of Iraqis think they are better off under the American occupation than they were under Saddam. I suspect that most of the people writing on this forum watch too much Fox News to have any clear idea of what is being done in their name around the world.
These kids must be all terrorists. You should let Bush and Cheney and McCain know about them.
Some have said that we are killing more people than Sadam. My question is how many car bombs and road side bombs have we set off to try to kill women and children. We have killed not even close to how many people that Sadam did. We don't run live people threw wood planners or cut off limbs and body OTHER body parts, so to say that we are doing anything other than helping these people is a stupid statement. We had to go threw as bad and more killings in this country to become free, death is simply the price of freedom.
"Come on CNN, quit the BIAS BS, and report the TRUTH."
I agree with SSG Patrick Mulcahy from Pensacola, FL. He was there serving our country and spent his effort for positive effects - for both sides, unlike this skewed report.
It is so sad to see children ( like yours and mine) suffer like that... The war in iraq needs to end it makes no sense on why americans are still over there loosing their life everyday..
How sad that chidren see no furure and how sad that so many people who have commented on this article fail to see what is really going on in Iraq. Surely you don't believe what your president says.
Why do you people blame CNN for reporting Iraq News Stories? CNN tries to report both sides , like the Iraqi soccer team, rhat was a real feel good story everyone happy and habing fun, Oh and what happened to them? Mnn shot I think, weddings? Pretty nice and normal despite the war people are still getting married, then a bomb attack on the wedding party, well, I have come to realize there are no feel good stories in Iraq. CNN is reporting the truth, war is ugly and if you can find a feel good story it`s more often than not accompanied by death and destruction. Sorry if the war doesn`t make America look good but that`s the way it is folks. No flowers, no open arms just death and destruction. Did anyone see Combat Hospital on CNN? That is the real Iraq!!!!! Horrendously appalling.
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