Iraqis' right to life no longer protected -Annan

[struggle4progress]

15.09.2005 - 20:53
By Irwin Arieff

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The right to life of civilians in Iraq has fallen victim to a combination of terrorism, violent crime and military excesses, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported on Thursday.

More than 80 percent of the 1,100 bodies brought in to Baghdad's Forensic Institute during the month of July bore evidence of violent death, "far in excess of the averages in previous months," Annan told the Security Council in a progress report on the world body's operations in Iraq.

"These figures are indicative of a steadily deteriorating trend and provide an important indicator of the absence of protection of the right to life which prevails at this time in Iraq," his report said.

In addition to insurgent attacks, there was continuing concern about military operations by the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq that have resulted in "civilian deaths, injury and displacement caused by excessive or apparent indiscriminate use of force," he said. <snip>

http://www.swisspolitics.org/en/news/index.php?section=int&page=news_inhalt&news_id=6090791

[slay]

1. Saddam was a bad guy

But at least he held that country together somewhat. Which is really hard to do when you've got a country full of religious extremists. :(

[Trevelyan]

2. New Massacre at Tal Afar

U.S. soldier runs for cover as Iraqi soliders provide security in Tal Afar.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/09/10/iraq.main/

An American contractor is free after 10 months (1:29)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. and Iraqi soldiers have been going from house to house in the restive northern city of Tal Afar to ferret out militants in an operation that will continue until it is "freed from insurgents," military officials said.

U.S. and Iraqi forces, traveling in Humvees and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, on Saturday swept through one-third of the city, where U.S. and Iraqi forces have been sparring with militants in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in a printed announcement and later in remarks at a news conference, said he ordered the offensive "to remove all remaining terrorist elements from the city of Tel Afar" and stressed that residents and leaders there who are fed up with insurgents "asked us to intervene."

Defense Minister Sadoun al-Dulaimi, appearing at the press conference with al-Jaafari and other Cabinet ministers, said the planning for this ultimate siege has been going on over the weeks as Iraqi and U.S. forces massed on the city -- a largely Turkmen city in Nineveh province.

"The basic military operation to purge the city of Tal Afar from the terrorists, the killers has started today," al-Dulaimi said.

There had been efforts to remove the insurgency from the city in a peaceful manner, al-Dulaimi said, but fighting persisted just the same. Over the last two days, for example, 140 insurgents have been killed and more than 190 detained. Thirteen weapons caches have been discovered.

[Trevelyan]

3. Requiem for a Nation

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-09/09/article01.shtml

Requiem for a Nation

By Abid Ullah Jan

09/10/05 "ICH" Information Clearinghous -- -- What do you think of these words: “Unable to win hearts and minds, the invaders now aim lower. The overwhelming evidence is that …the occupiers widened the war to de­stroy food production in rebel-held areas. The report lists indiscriminate bombings, reprisal against villages and villagers, summary executions, … theft of civilian property, desecration of mosques, killing prisoners of war, wreckage of hospitals, assaults on journalists, training children as spies - all violations of Geneva conventions to which the Soviet Union has solemnly subscribed.”

It seems these are words from some “Islamist” web site, which spew venom against the allied forces’ noble mission in Iraq to motivate and recruit “terrorist” insurgents. Surprisingly, these are words from an editor ial of the New York Times — an editorial in which it reminds the occupier of “all violations of Geneva conventions to which” the it “has solemnly subscribed.” ....

[Trevelyan]

4. There seems to be something much larger going-on

Almost every day I'm seeing some 100 here, or 200 there, a group of children, or just an un-named gathering of folks, blown-up by suicide bombers! Yet, where's the "outrage" here in this country?

How can you read the daily paper, see all these killings, and NOT have it affect you, as an American? There seems to be something much larger going-on than anyone in government is willing to admit! If Saddam had as many Iraqis killed almost daily as we're seeing over there right now, he'd be considered more of the "madman" than he currently is...yet there seem to be no answers as to the "why" of these daily massacres.

I just feel a great sense of confusion, and one automatically assumes that we opened-up the worst pandoras box imaginable when we invaded these historic lands. Might it have been that Iraq was/is un-governable by "western-democratic-standards"? It's obvious that the "revolution" coming to Iraq was way too premature. Revolution comes from within, not without, thus the "why" of what we're seeing over there now.

When we trumped-up those false charges of WMD and showed Colin Powell holding up a bottle of Anthrax, as justification for "invasion", I had a sick feeling in my stomach b/c I knew we were "lying" (and I don't use that word lightly!); It was too obvious that it was a ruse, our pouncing on what is essentially a 3rd-world country! Sure, Saddam probably did have some kind of weapons that could produce destruction, but nothing like what has since transpired in his country since his removal! They had a few "scud" missiles that they feebly attempted to use in their defense, and which ironically narrowly missed Central Command in Qatar during the invasion.

I don't know, I'm just sick-and-tired of seeing ordinary Iraqi's (innocent young men, women, children) being blown-up---especially since we're supposed to be bringing them "democracy"! It's a "crime-against-humanity" to not have a world-forum immediately dispatched to deal with this genocide! But, we "went-it-alone", so we can hardly cry now for a "world-forum"!

As an ordinary American, I'm sick-of-it, just sick! Mainly for the Iraqis! Everyone drives around in their gass-guzzling SUV with a "Support-Out-Troops" sticker, bought at 7/11, and made in China, while our cousins, brothers, and children in Iraq are dying! What about the children in Iraq? I support them,...and the women,and the young men, and the old men, and the old women. What about them? They don't have the benefit of an M-16, body armor, and MR-E's! I support them!

And God only knows how to resolve this...God only knows! But, if you look at history, it should be no surprise. An un-just war will never,NEVER make "justice"! Look at Vietnam as a classic example! Or the countless other "un-justified wars".If this was a "just war", we wouldn't be seeing ordinary women and children being blown-up everyday! God help us make some kind of "sense" out of this utter "non-sense'.

Idea just dawned on me! Let's use Saddam Hussein as a "tool" for law and order! Apparently he was the only leader who was able to maintain some sense of "peace" in broader Iraq! So, instead of commencing a "trial-of-death" for him, let's use him as a tool to "gather-his-people" and issue a decree of "peace-and-restraint", in exchange for "negating-the-death-penalty" in his case; We could place him under "life-arrest" only, if he'll help restore order in Iraq! Of course that won't work, you know whey? B/C the United States would have to admit that it made a huge mistake, it would "legitimize" Saddam as a "leader", and it would make the US look bad! But you know what, it would be the "right-thing-to-do" to honor life, help restore order, and to bring some kind of "healing to Iraq"!

It's also something tangible that we could do, actually! Oh, but such a maneuver would be against everything the US military and US governement "poses" to stand for...it would expose the "lie" that rushed-us-in-there, as a coalition-of-the-handful, while the rest of the world said, "no, this is not the way to handle this conflict"! And all the while Iran turns Uranian into weapons-grade plutonium!No, we need honesty and leadership! If you're tired of seeing Iraqis blown up daily, then demand some real "honesty and leadership" from Washington, and some redress from former mistakes!

[slay]

5. Yeah

It's soooo sad the way people have chosen to let America fall into the hands of these current fascists who are supposed to be our "leaders". It's not that people don't care I don't think, it's that they are overwhelmed by all the other terrible stuff going on right now, as well as having to deal with their daily lives. This whole situation we are in is so terribly sad it just makes me want to cry. I wish we could help the Iraqi people, I really do, but at this point we can't even help ourselves. :(

[IndyJones]

6. I think the same thing about the death and suffering.

It angers me how it seems like people are desensitized to reading and hearing about the deaths. I can't even get my arms around the pain and suffering so many are enduring. It has a profound impact on me. It saddens me to the core.

[Karenina]

8. It's American *elite GENOCIDE

of poor brown people and anyone else among 'em.

[Rose Siding]

7. Now that's an appropriate usage of the term "right to life"

Kofi's no fool ;)

[VegasWolf]

9. Damn, Bush makes Saddam look like an angel!! nt