Wrongful Deaths in Iraq? Any Rightful Deaths to Speak of?

["Alain St-Amour" <alainstamour@xxxxxxxx>]

As infuriating as this report might seem, let's not get too upset.

After all, a U.S. mouthpiece in Baghdad is on record as saying that ?we do take 
investigations very seriously.?

Alain
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http://tinyurl.com/rqco

U.S. soldiers accused of wrongful deaths
Associated Press

Monday, Oct. 20, 2003

New York ? A human rights organization says it has confirmed 20 civilian deaths 
under questionable circumstances in Baghdad since May 1, when U.S. President 
George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq, and has 
received credible reports of dozens more.

In a report released late Monday, Human Rights Watch also accused the U.S. 
military of failing to conduct proper investigations into excessive or 
indiscriminate use of force in the Iraqi capital.

?It's a tragedy that U.S. soldiers have killed so many civilians in Baghdad,? 
said Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa 
division of the New York-based group, which monitors human rights abuses around 
the world.

?But it's really incredible that the U.S. military does not even count these 
deaths,? Mr. Stork said. ?Any time U.S. forces kill an Iraqi civilian in 
questionable circumstances, they should investigate the incident.?

George Krivo, a spokesman for the U.S. command in Baghdad, said Monday that he 
had not seen the report, but added that ?we do take investigations very 
seriously.?

Human Rights Watch said it was able to confirm 20 civilian deaths caused by 
U.S. forces in Iraq's capital between May 1 and Sept. 30, based on interviews 
with witnesses and victims' relatives. The organization also said it received 
?credible reports? that U.S. forces killed another 74 civilians under 
questionable circumstances during the five-month period.

The organization recommended better language and cultural training, as well as 
more accountability for soldiers who now operate ?with virtual impunity in 
Iraq.?

In compiling its report, Human Rights Watch said it conducted more than 60 
interviews, reviewed police records and media accounts, and collected 
information from the military and human rights groups.

As of Oct. 1, the organization said, U.S. forces had acknowledged completing 
five investigations above the division level into alleged unlawful killings of 
civilians. In four of those incidents, soldiers were found to have operated 
within rules of engagement. In the fifth case, a helicopter pilot and his 
commander face disciplinary action for removing an Islamic banner from a tower, 
which led to an altercation with demonstrators in which one or more civilians 
may have been killed.

Mr. Krivo said investigations are ongoing into two fatal incidents. One centres 
on the Sept. 12 killing of eight Iraqi police officers and one Jordanian guard 
by soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division. The other involves the killing of an 
Iraqi, he said, but no other details were provided.

The deaths Human Rights Watch documented fall into three categories: those that 
occurred in raids; those in which the group alleges that soldiers responded 
disproportionately and indiscriminately to attacks; and those of Iraqis who 
failed to stop at checkpoints.

?U.S. checkpoints constantly shift throughout Baghdad, and are sometimes not 
well marked, although sign visibility is improving,? the report said. ?A dearth 
of Arabic interpreters and poor understanding of Iraqi hand gestures cause 
confusion, with results that are sometimes fatal for civilians.?

The report's author, Human Rights Watch consultant Fred Abrahams, said the 
report was limited to deaths in Baghdad because it was ?the natural place to 
begin.?

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031020.wiraq1021/BNStory/International/


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