Swimming Lessons

“U.S. soldiers began to open fire on the houses, so I decided that it was very dangerous to stay in my house” … Hussein said he panicked, seizing on a plan to escape across the Euphrates River, which flows on the western side of the city “I wasn’t really thinking,” he said. “Suddenly, I just had to get out. I didn’t think there was any other choice.” … Hussein moved from house to house dodging gunfire and reached the river. “I decided to swim but I changed my mind after seeing U.S. helicopters firing on and killing people who tried to cross the river.” He watched horrified as a family of five was shot dead as they tried to cross. Then, he “helped bury a man by the river bank, with my own hands.” “I kept walking along the river for two hours and I could still see some U.S. snipers ready to shoot anyone who might swim. I quit the idea of crossing the river and walked for about five hours through orchards”.