he Iraq Quagmire: Civilians paying the price

[moghrabi]

The Iraq Quagmire: Civilians paying the price
11/11/2005 7:30:00 PM GMT

The toll of civilian casualties in Iraq prove that what’s taking place in Iraq now is nothing less than a 'crime against humanity,' according to an article from Iraq’s Azzaman newspaper.

"The devastating consequences of using cluster bombs in civilian areas are utterly predictable. If, as accounts suggest, U.S. forces dropped cluster bombs in residential areas of al-Hilla, even if they were directed at military targets, this would be a grave breach of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International stated at the early stages of the war, when a United States cluster munition attack on the Iraqi town of Hilla in March 2003 killed at least thirty-three civilians and injured 109.

"The attack at al-Hilla's hospital on 1 April was an example of indiscriminate killing of civilians and a grave violation of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International emphasized.

We had a great day," said Sgt Eric Schrumpf of the U.S. Marines on April 6, 2003. "We killed a lot of people." "We dropped a few civilians, but what do you do?" He said there were women standing near an Iraqi soldier, and one of them fell when he and other Marines opened fire. "I'm sorry," said Sgt Schrumpf, "but the chick was in the way," said an article that was published on the British daily The Mirror.

"Those found responsible for any violations of the laws of war should be brought to justice," Amnesty said.

Despite repetitive claims by U.S. and UK authorities that they do all they can to protect civilians, hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, including men and women lost their lives since the war was launched in March 20 2003.

As fighting continues in the war-raged country, attacks in the vicinity of civilian targets continue and are expected to escalate.

"We urge all the warring parties to make the safety of the Iraqi civilians a top priority," Amnesty previously said.

Till when should ordinary Iraqis pay the price for the surge in violence whether it be by the U.S. non-stop military operations or attacks by armed groups opposing the government and the presence of the invading troops.

Also during the recent U.S. border offensive [Operation Steel Curtain], scores of Iraqi civilians lost their lives and dozens were injured, witnesses and correspondents asserted.

If the U.S. with the mightiest military machine ever in world history failed in preventing fighters’ infiltration into Iraq, if this is really happening, then it’s absolutely impossible for Iraqis living in border villages. If the U.S.’s massive and disproportionate firepower can’t crush those fighters, how are ordinary Iraqis, women and children are expected to take up arms and stop them?

With the absence of honest media coverage, it’s become increasingly difficult and almost impossible to assess the damage and casualties in regions hit by the U.S. offensives.

However, several U.S. military officials revealed that civilians on many occasions bear the brunt, something worldwide media and the puppet Iraqi government repetitively sought to hide.

Iraqi medics and Red Crescent officials challenge the U.S. continuous claims about the number of civilians killed- They also spoke about thousands of families who deserted their homes as a result of the repetitive U.S. offensives.

The U.S. is punishing the Iraqi civilians for its failure to stop fighters’ infiltration and beat the resistance- Hundreds and thousands of innocent Iraqis have been either killed or displaced for the purposes of exposing rebels who are able to resist the U.S. Army- shouldn’t this be considered a crime against humanity.

Similar tactics were used in Vietnam, where about two million people lost their lives and many more were maimed. Like President Bush, President Reagan said that American soldiers were fighting for a "noble cause".

Pictures can be seen at website.

http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10125

 

[Colpy]

Gee, imagine that!

A newspaper in Iraq criticizing American military actions there.

You wouldn't be insinuating that the Iraqis are enjoying some new freedoms, would you?

 

[moghrabi]

RE: he Iraq Quagmire: Civ

You are either dumb or acting like one.

First the newspaper is Al-Jazeera which is not Iraqi but a Gulf state newspaper.

Second, even if it was an Iraqi newspaper, it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Have some intelligent debate or keep quiet.

 

[Karlin]

Colpy says:
Gee, imagine that! A newspaper in Iraq criticizing American military actions there.

K -- so how about an American reporting the words of a USA soldier- would that be more convincing??
LOL, gotcha!! read on -

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/nov2004/vet-n11.shtml
Iraq veteran Jimmy Massey speaks to the WSWS -
“We’re committing genocide in Iraq”

“We were like a bunch of cowboys who rode into town shooting up the place. I saw charred bodies in vehicles that were clearly not military vehicles. I saw people dead on the side of the road in civilian clothes. As a matter of fact, I only remember seeing a couple of bodies in military uniform the whole time.
“As far as I’m concerned, the real war did not begin until they saw us murdering innocent civilians,” he said. “I mean, they were witnessing their loved ones being murdered by US Marines. It’s kind of hard to tell someone that they are being liberated when they just saw their child shot or lost their husband or grandmother.”
"During a single 48-hour period, he says, he saw as many as 30 civilians killed by US gunfire at highway checkpoints."

-------

"...the hostility of the Iraqi people to the presence of the US military grew exponentially over the time he was there in direct response to the brutal methods employed by American troops against the entire Iraqi population."

--- ETC -
Massey also goes on to say the mission was all about oil -
"eight months before we even left to go to Kuwait, the Marines were training to shut down and take over the Ar Rumaylah oil fields. We had detailed schematics and terrain models of all of the oil fields outside of Basra"

----On recruting and economics:

as a recruiter, [Massey saw that] the Marines are preying on young people from economically depressed areas.

“Here’s the problem in America, what we’re living in is becoming an increasingly militaristic society, where poor people have been encouraged to sign up as the front line,” Massey said.

“A large percentage of the so-called growth in this country is associated with the military. The bottom line is, for the Halliburtons and Enrons war is good, but for the poor and for all of the soldiers coming home, especially the ones coming home wounded, there’s not much of a future. But for a lot of the kids getting ready to graduate high-school, the military is looking pretty good because their families have no money to send them to college.”

---


What about Massey for President? He seems smart enough, thoughtfull on many issues and sees the big picture too.
He would have both the military side of the Republicans, plus the peace lovers,and the poor.
As if he could ever get a nomination - thats one way how 'they' control the electoral process. Freedom? Democracy? NOT!!

Karlin

“We’re fighting average Iraqis who don’t want the US there”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/nov2004/hoff-n08.shtml

Discontent rife in US military ranks" -
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/oct2004/mili-o16.shtml

 

[moghrabi]

RE: he Iraq Quagmire: Civ

Thanks Karlin. Interesting Links.