Amnesty Intl.: Urgent inquiry needed into civilian killings by US troops

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Iraq: Urgent inquiry needed into civilian killings by US troops
Press release, 09/17/2004

http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE140472004

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Multinational troops must take necessary precautions to protect civilians, and respect the principles of necessity and proportionality," said Abdel Salam Sidahmed. "Amnesty International is seeking clarification of the measures multinational forces are taking to ensure that they comply fully with their obligations under international law."

A clarification on the legal responsibilities of multinational troops in Iraq is also needed. These troops have been provided broad powers to act "by preventing and deterring terrorism". However, the international or national standards which they must observe "to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq" remain unclear.

Iraq's Interim government is responsible for making sure that the multinational troops it has mandated to protect civilians and maintain security, law and order in the country, fulfil their mission while abiding by international humanitarian and human rights law. In addition, each of the states whose troops are deployed in Iraq is responsible for ensuring that its troops abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.

"Amnesty International calls on all parties in Iraq to fully meet their obligations under international law, including by respecting all human rights which Iraq is bound to uphold under the human rights treaties to which it is a party.


U.S. Air Attacks in Falluja Kill 15 in 24 Hours
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=HNEZEO3VWNVNUCRBAE0CFEY?type=topNews&storyID=6333275

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1. War is not a life: it is a situation,

One which may neither be ignored nor accepted.
-T.S. Eliot

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2. Did we get any 'rebels' in these air strikes? All I see is more killing.

I fear it is for nothing and will only further the conflict.


Haj Habib, carries the dead body of his grandson, who died in an U.S airstrike in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq , early on the morning of Sunday Sept. 26, 2004. A total of six persons were injured, and one died, all from the same family. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
AP - Sep 26 3:44 AM




Umm Qais, left, cries after one of her grandsons died and four of her sons sustained injuries in an U.S airstrike in Sadr City, Iraq , early on the morning of Sunday Sept. 26, 2004. A total of six persons were injured, and one died, all from the same family. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
AP - Sep 26 3:44 AM




A worker cleans the debris as an injured person sits inside his shop shortly after a rocket attack killed one person and injured eight in Karrada district of Baghdad, Iraq , Sunday Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
AP - Sep 26 3:12 AM




Haj Habib, left, looks at the face of his dead grandson, Musa Qais, one last time before taking his body for burial, in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq , early on the morning of Sunday Sept. 26, 2004. A total of six persons were injured, and one died, in the U.S. airstrike. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
AP - Sep 26 3:45 AM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040926/481/bag10309261042

[Johnny 99]

3. The question to be asked is

what information are our troops getting? Something tells me that this administration is so desperate to do something that they're just feeding them whatever they want, regardless of the consequences.

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4. "Intelligence sources . . .

. . . indicated that approximately 10 terrorists were meeting at this location to plan operations targeting innocent Iraqi civilians and multinational forces," a coalition spokesman said.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/09/25/iraq.main/index.html