U.S. Missiles Kill 20 Fallujah Residents

[Eric J in MN]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716

n the Fallujah strike, at least two houses were destroyed and six others were damaged in the poor neighborhood.

At least 20 bodies were counted, and they were taken for burial immediately at the city's "martyrs' cemetery in accordance with Islamic custom of burying the dead quickly. At least three women and five children were among the dead. Two other people died at the hospital, officials there said.

"At 9:30 a.m., a U.S. plane shot two missiles on this residential area," said the Fallujah police chief, Sabbar al-Janabi, as he surveyed the wreckage. "Scores were killed and injured. This picture speaks for itself."

It was not clear what the target was, but U.S. officials have said Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may be hiding in the city.
-----------------------

So instead of sending in people on the ground to find Zarqawi, they just fired missles which destroyed people's homes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. :^(

[nostamj]

2. the bush* doctrine

creating new terrorists every day!

[keithyboy]

3. Beheading one man is "terrorism" killing 20 from afar is not.

And we wonder why they hate us?

[keithyboy]

4. And why is it "US Missiles Kill 20 Fallujah Residents?

How about "US MILITARY Kills 20 Fallujah Residents?"
It's like the missiles acted on their own. Like "Israeli helicopters fire into Gaza killing 14." Like the helicopters somehow just fired on their own. Why didn't the papers say "Saber Beheads Paul Johnson?"
I am so sick of the shit that the Bush administration has gotten us into all around the world. The so-called "terrorists" are killing Americans BECAUSE WE ARE THERE!! Get the hell out and leave these people alone!

[Q]

5. It's ALSO contrary to the rules of the Geneva Conventions...

...to target civilian / residential neighborhoods in an attempt to 'kill' a target. Not that Bush* or the American people give a shit.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Where does it say that in the Geneva Convention?

Where does it say that in the Geneva Convention?

I know that it's illegal to target civilians, but it is it illegal (not just unethical) to kill civilians with the excuse that an enemy might be in the area?

[keithyboy]

8. So what are you saying? Geneva Convention aside, if this is ok for US

then we have no moral standing to criticize the terrorists who kill many to target Americans or American interests.

[Eric J in MN]

9. I posted the article because I think it's unethical.

I posted the article because I think it's unethical.

Legally, if they had intelligence (even lousy intelligence) that an enemy was in a house, I'm not sure if it was illegal to kill the people inside, though obviously it's unethical.

[Vladimir]

13. International law is not that clear cut

what it comes down to, ultimately, is that its legal to do so if you are strong enough to resist the outcry that will result.

[bluedog]

14. Israel

they do this all the time....are we fashioning our attacks after theres?

[Eric J in MN]

7. The AP is running a photo of the destoyed homes, but not

The AP is running a photo of the destoyed homes, but not of the dead and wounded, as far as I know.


http://apnews.excite.com/image/20040619/IRAQ_FALLUJAH.sff_BAG107_20040619091551.html?date=20040619&docid=D83A46MG0

[keithyboy]

11. A sad, sad scene. It's 9/11 for Iraq almost every day. Think about it!

Who in this world are the real terrorists? Who really has the weapons and technoloby to terrorize masses of people? What nations have used weapons of mass destruction on other nations? What nationis the ONLY to have developed and used an atomic bomb on two civilian populations? What nations occupy other nations? What nations are historically known to have invaded, plundered, and completely overtaken indigious peoples and permantently occupied those people (was it civilized or uncivilized to do this?)? Who needs oil to survive? (certainly not the Aborigines)

We really need to get a grip on who we really are and what we really have done throughout history.

[mike_c]

10. it's resistance busting, Israeli style....

There MIGHT be someone we're seking who's never been tried and convicted of any crime in that crowd or neighborhood. The notion of real justice-- innocence until proven guilty-- is just so eighteenth century. Missles used against cars, people, and houses is so much more teccnologically impressive....

[Eric J in MN]

12. I think the US and Israel should be ogligated to attempt to capture

I think the US and Israel should be ogligated to attempt to capture someone they suspect of terrorism, rather than just shooting a missile to kill that person and killing everyone nearby.

[Aidoneus]

15. If they want "terrorist" suspects,

they should be obligated to bomb themselves. :shrug:

[Eric J in MN]

16. Yahoo! changed its headline.

From "U.S. Missiles Kill 20 Fallujah Residents"

to "U.S. targets al-Zarqawi network, kills 16"

Now the people killed by the US aren't residents anymore.

The men, women, and children the US killed are all part of the al-Zarqawi network, because the Pentagon says so.