950 juveniles in US prisons in Iraq -- general

[sabra]

Source: AFP

Agence France-Presse

BAGHDAD -- US troops are holding nearly 950 children and teenagers in a military prison at a Baghdad base, some as young as 10, a top commander said Monday.

Brigadier General Michael Nevin of US military police said many of these youngsters, mainly 15, 16 or 17 years of age are illiterate and have been detained for planting bombs and even for "picking up a gun and firefighting."

...

"These juveniles have been involved in something that is perceived as a security threat to Iraq or coalition forces," Nevin told Agence France-Presse during a tour of Camp Cropper.

...

"In January we had around 100 juveniles. Now we have around 950," Nevin said.

...

One of the commanders at Camp Cropper, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm McMullen, said the juveniles were now part of a wide-ranging educational program launched by the military.

"Many of them come from broken homes with no education," he said.


Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=104634

[saigon68]

1. "Bring em on" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[tuckessee]

2. Remember this is only ONE prison.

The actual number of juveniles being held (indefintely w/o charges, I should add) by the Americans is much higher.

[keopeli]

3. Very misleading headline from the Inquirer. This is only ONE prison.

It makes one very suspicious about the intentions of this news source when a headline is messed up this badly. To be fair, Yahoo News has the same bad headline, which implies the news is propaganda.

Allegedly, there are two military prisons in Iraq and this count is for Camp Cropper near the airport. Though the other camp (Camp Bucca) is mentioned, the article says nothing of whether any juveniles are being held there or elsewhere.

It does say the number at camp Cropper has jumped from 100 to 950 just this year (a la "the surge").