AP Photographer Flees Fallujah

Sunday November 14, 2004 6:31 PM


AP Photo BAG121

By KATARINA KRATOVAC

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - In the weeks before the crushing military assault on his hometown, Bilal Hussein sent his parents and brother away from Fallujah to stay with relatives.

The 33-year-old Associated Press photographer stayed behind to capture insider images during the siege of the former insurgent stronghold.

``Everyone in Fallujah knew it was coming. I had been taking pictures for days,'' he said. ``I thought I could go on doing it.''

In the hours and days that followed, heavy bombing raids and thunderous artillery shelling turned Hussein's northern Jolan neighborhood into a zone of rubble and death. The walls of his house were pockmarked by coalition fire.

``Destruction was everywhere. I saw people lying dead in the streets, wounded were bleeding and there was no one to come and help them. Even the civilians who stayed in Fallujah were too afraid to go out,'' he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4614717,00.html

:puke: "Proud to be an American" I am not! Thanks "Value Voters" :grr:

Bush was re-elected. That's all that matters. The guy lived. He'll get over it.

<sarcasm off>