Minors have joined the sale of weapons in the war-torn country

By Sobhy Haddad, IOL Correspondent

BAGHDAD, August 10 (IslamOnline.net) – With the downfall of Baghdad and ensuing U.S. occupation, markets for arms, prostitution and drugs have come out of the dark with the involvement of children.

With the absence of security and the spread of chaos, weapons have been well selling like hot cakes in the war-scarred country.

One of the largest weapon markets is Al-Mireidi in Iraq’s crowed Al-Thawra city, where one should feel fearful that everything, even his life, is on the line – ironically in a place where people come to ensure their own safety.

We had tried to enter this market several times, but we were inflicted with such problems as parking the car away from watchful eyes of thieves also ready to pick pocket all what we have.

In the market, where we decided to enter against all considerations, types of all weapons, except missiles and anti-tank rockets, are offered for sale by traders lining the long street.

Asked where they got their goods from, one of the traders found it enough to smile over what he sees as a naïve question.

“Arms caches of the (former) Iraqi army were open to every one, and the U.S. soldiers just played the audience role with no intervention over” widespread scenes of looting them, said one client standing nearby.

Some sources put at 8 million the number of weapons owned by local inhabitants after the fall of Baghdad, let alone countless numbers of hand grenades and heavier weapons.

‘Minor’ Traders      

In the market, where forged certificates are also selling well, nothing could attract attention rather than small boys professionally selling weapons.

“What shall I do, I weighed my options for such a trade rather than thievery,” said one of the minor traders with a mixture of sadness and truthfulness.

“We did not steal these weapons, we only market them,” said another.

Those boys chide just thinking where weapons go and the motives for buying them. It is just a trade.

Asked whether he fears that weapons might fall into wrong hands, one of the boys said indifferently: “ It is up to the client, and non of my business”.

Trying out a Kalashnikov, one of the buyers lamented that children joining the trade.

“Those juveniles should have played sports or joined a club preventing them from sliding into delinquency, as they are nucleus for men of the future,” he said.

But he then turned away and negotiated a price for the weapon with the boy.

The traders have enough cause to justify their work, saying they traded in weapons as they are marketable and that they are ready to quit for other jobs when available.

The need for arms has become a necessity for many Iraqis, inflicted with pillaging and looting as well as lack of security, as anti-American sentiments are on the rise among ordinary people seeking an end to occupation and turning over power of their oil-rich country.

“In this illegal market, people could get arms to protect themselves after the U.S. occupation forces stopped short of providing it for them,” said one man in the market, who declined to give his identity.

“Such weapons are also used by Iraqi resistance fighters, who would oust the occupiers, especially after such operations increased at a daily rate of 25,” he said, echoing steadily growing anti-American outrage. 

Prices in the market saw a down turn as numbers of arms offered for sale had increased after the ouster of the regime. A Kalashnikov had been sold at 5-6,000 Iraqi dinars, and now at 75,000.

The Belgian-made weapons are valued at 15,000 dinars, and the Iraqi-made weapon Tarek could be got for 300-350,000 dinars.