The Victims of War

Nightmarish Conditions at Iraqi Ophanage

U.S., Iraqi soldiers rescue 24 severely malnourished and abused boys.

CBS reported of a nightmare scene in an Iraqi ophanage. It was a scene that shocked battle-hardened soldiers, captured in photographs.

Just over than a week ago, a U.S. military advisory team and Iraqi soldiers happened to look over a wall and found something horrific.

Inside the building, a government-run orphanage for special needs children, the soldiers found more emaciated little bodies tied to the cribs. They had been kept this way for more than a month, according to the soldiers called in to rescue the 24 boys.

"I saw children that you could see literally every bone in their body that were so skinny, they had no energy to move whatsoever, no expression on their face," Staff Sgt. Michael Beale said.

"The kids were tied up, naked, covered in their own waste — feces — and there were three people that were cooking themselves food, but nothing for the kids," Lt. Stephen Duperre said.

It didn't stop there. The soldiers found kitchen shelves packed with food and in the stockroom, rows of brand-new clothing still in their plastic wrapping.

Instead of giving it to the boys, the soldiers believe it was being sold to local markets.

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