The Girl Turned Into A Human Bomb

CBS Evening News Exclusive: Interview With 15-Year-Old Iraqi Girl Who Survived Being Strapped With Explosives

(CBS)  Rania al Ambaki was handcuffed to a gate at an Iraq security checkpoint. She was a human bomb, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports.

Suspicious officers immobilized her, jammed cell phone signals that could detonate the explosives, then carefully removed her suicide vest.

She turned out to be just 15 years old, and her story is an increasingly common one.

She comes from Baquba, an al Qaeda hot spot just north of Baghdad. It's a recruiting ground for women suicide bombers who are responsible for much of the recent carnage in story=3220766>Iraq.

Last year, there were eight women bombers. So far this year, there have been 35. A CBS News crew traveled to Baquba to meet Rania in jail.

"I now thank God that I didn't get blown up," she said through a translator.

Rania told police she had no idea the vest was a bomb. Family members, including her husband, she said, had helped her put it on.

Police think they may have drugged her, and meant to blow her up by remote control.

Rania said through a translator: "They told me that it was a kind of medical vest for back pain."

Gen. Abdul Kareem Qalaf helped interrogate Rania. He said: "She has a low IQ and is a vulnerable teenage girl."

Why does there suddenly seem to be so many women suicide bombers?

Qalaf said through a translator: "Al Qaeda uses these people - the mentally ill, children and very young women. This shows al Qaeda is failing."

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Read more foreign news at the new World Watch blog.

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Al Qaeda is using women bombers - because it works. In a conservative Muslim society, they're less likely to be searched, and there's a shortage of female security agents to do the job.

As for Rania, she lived to tell a tale that helped police arrest her husband. But her aunt, the suspected ringleader, is still on the run. She's one of a new breed of Iraqi women turned into key players in the ruthless business of terrorism.

[txgrouch2007]

Although I know that the WMD were moved out before we came, I still don''''t believe that we were justified to do what we did.Posted by VcofReason at 11:26 PM : Dec 06, 2008

Then whoever said THIS was THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER:

"Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.

%u201DThe international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. "

Speech from the Oval Office by President William Clinton, explaining his attack on Iraq
reported by The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 16, 1998

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/clintontext121698.htm

BTW, Bill Clinton was impeached on December 19, 1998.

[vcofreason]

Although I know that the WMD were moved out before we came, I still don''t believe that we were justified to do what we did. There are lots of countries that harbor terrorists and we don''t go in there blowing them up. If anything, I see countries like Iran and N. Korea as more of a threat.

However, if we were to pull out of Iraq right away, the consequences would be disastrous. I think people who don''t realize that are very, very naive''.

[dennisjr6]

I think that she should be sentenced to a "considerable amount" of time in prison....

[dennisjr6]

She should be likely, that the security forces did not shot her on site....

[gaye5]

OH, that is so sad and so evil, all from the religion of peace... all for Allah, Allah who tells them in the Quran to kill the infidel.

When will our politicians wake up to the fact that this is a war cult and the bombers are the faithful Muslims, the others are just sleepers until the time is right..
Muslims are NOT allowed to kill the innocent, but the infidel, Hundi''s, Buddists, Jews and Christians are not the innocent.
And now it looks like the UN are pushing for religious protection for this horrific religion.. For goodness sake it is us that need the protection from them.. Who is going to lead this new world order that the UN is pushing for, Muslims???

[ghs4u]

There is no doubt that the girl knew what was going on. Her family was involved. I do not believe she thought the vest was for back pain. She was likely told she would honor her god to sacrifice herself. Or she grew up with enough hatred of others that she did not mind ending her life to get rid of others.//The terrorist groups are not failing when they use women and children. They are aware that we scrutinize them less and desire to help them when they look troubled, in which we would walk right up to them and get blown up. Or they walk through a crowded area without being suspected. Handcuffed to a gate - yeah, that''s a clue. I do not think I will ever understand how they think they are honoring a god by killing themselves and others, lives that God created.

[flreason]

txgrouch2007:

As the old nursery rhyme says: "A man of words, But not of deeds, Is like a garden full of weeds. All you ever do is grouch about Dems. If you want them to stop kvetching about Republicans, you should lead by example.

[liberate40]

Right on sero5. Teens are coerced into doing things against their will. They are forced to give birth against their will and forced to suit up suicide bomber vests in the "glory of Allah".

[sero5]

Posted by truthislife1 at 12:52 PM : Dec 06, 2008:
"How is what Al Qaeda is doing to people any different than us here aborting babies out of mothers? We in America are just as wicked a nation."
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Are conservative, pro-lifers like yourself willing to pay spiraling healthcare costs for these unwanted pregnancies? Are you going to coerce pregnant teens to give birth?

[hermitdave]

gccint--BUSH is the CIC he is 100% the man in charge of killing innocent women and children in his two phony fake crusades. Remember he is the one person with enough power to stop this crazy slaughter of innocent humans. Military and CIA commanders take orders from this spoiled rich kid playing president.

[nothappyatall]

"Al Qaeda uses these people - the mentally ill, children and very young women. This shows al Qaeda is failing."


Hardly! it shows they have the resourcefullness to try new things to accomplish their goals.

[truthislife1]

How is what Al Qaeda is doing to people any different than us here aborting babies out of mothers? We in America are just as wicked a nation.

[ioweign]

The question NO DEMOCRAT WILL ANSWER:

Have you EVER blamed ANY Democrat for ANYTHING? EVEN ONCE???

Posted by txgrouch2007 at 10:19 AM : Dec 06, 2008


Pelosi for not putting "Impeachment" back on the table...

[ioweign]

America tortures prisoners

Waterboarding has been designated and prosecuted by the US military as a war crime

America has committed war crimes

Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 07:14 AM : Dec 06, 2008

Could you please post a link to support the statement ''''Waterboarding has been designated and prosecuted by the US military as a war crime''''

Thank You

Posted by Nojoy01 at 10:59 AM : Dec 06, 2008


Waterboarding has been around for quite sometime.

I am surprised that we are going backwards in this area in the time of star wars.

You would think they could at least use sodium pentothal (the truth serum). Well - truth serum may scare the hell out of a Republican Administration.

Waterboarding Historically Controversial
In 1947, the U.S. Called It a War Crime; in 1968, It Reportedly Caused an Investigation

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 5, 2006

Key senators say Congress has outlawed one of the most notorious detainee interrogation techniques -- "waterboarding," in which a prisoner feels near drowning. But the White House will not go that far, saying it would be wrong to tell terrorists which practices they might face.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100402005.html

[nojoy01]

America tortures prisoners

Waterboarding has been designated and prosecuted by the US military as a war crime

America has committed war crimes

Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 07:14 AM : Dec 06, 2008

Could you please post a link to support the statement ''Waterboarding has been designated and prosecuted by the US military as a war crime''

Thank You

[nojoy01]

Wow! This girl is amazing. Not only did she survive the attempt to use her as a weapons delivery system, she survived the waterboarding that followed.

Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 07:07 AM : Dec 06, 2008

Waterboarding??? H-m-m-m. I went back & read the story again but still did not find any reference to waterboarding. Is this a case of attempted ''sarcasm'' or just another instance of ''smarta$$''

[txgrouch2007]

The question NO DEMOCRAT WILL ANSWER:

Have you EVER blamed ANY Democrat for ANYTHING? EVEN ONCE???

[txgrouch2007]

I''''ve noted your confusion on several points, and the way you appear to be in denial. Liberal love will be your only source of healing. I wihs you the best in your abilty to see past your myopia.
Posted by Grandesign at 08:37 AM : Dec 06, 2008

Have you EVER blamed ANY Democrat for ANYTHING? EVEN ONCE???

[grandesign]

It''''s even MORE alarming that the voters have just given absolute power in the USA government to the party of hate and lies.
Posted by txgrouch2007 at 07:35 AM : Dec 06, 2008

I''ve noted your confusion on several points, and the way you appear to be in denial. Liberal love will be your only source of healing. I wihs you the best in your abilty to see past your myopia.

[txgrouch2007]

This story is alarming.

It''s even MORE alarming that the voters have just given absolute power in the USA government to the party of hate and lies.