Iraq: Insurgent Groups Responsible for War Crimes

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/519b0930e619fd969e0ff8e55ffe5d4e.htm

(Amman, October 3, 2005) – The various rationales offered by insurgent groups in Iraq for their attacks on civilians are not justified in international law, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 140-page report, A Face and a Name: Civilian Victims of Insurgent Groups in Iraq, is the most detailed study to date of abuses by insurgent groups. It systematically presents and debunks the arguments that some insurgent groups and their supporters use to justify unlawful attacks on civilians.

The laws of war do not outlaw insurgent groups or prohibit attacks on legitimate military targets, but they restrict the means and manner of attacks and oblige all forces in a conflict to protect civilians and other non-combatants. The deliberate targeting of civilians during an armed conflict constitutes a war crime.

"There are no justifications for targeting civilians, in Iraq or anywhere else," said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division. "Armed groups as well as governments must respect the laws of war."

The report examines the civilian groups targeted by insurgents-such as Iraq's ethnic and religious communities, politicians, academics, media and women-and the impact of targeted attacks on these groups. Through photos and eyewitness accounts obtained on the ground in Iraq, as well as media reports, the report gives the victims a face and a name.

I agree with this completely and the same goes for any British SAS agents dressed up like Iraqis caught doing this stuff. They are committing war crimes also. Where are those guys by the way?

[mike_c]

1. it's a civil war...

...without the benefit of armies to at least form the nexus of conflict. It's social violence writ as large as it can get. Civil war in the original sense-- civilian partisan violence. That's the U.S. legacy in Iraq. That dijn is out of the bottle and NOT going back in anytime soon.

[Rex]

2. War is hell.

IMO, we took the gloves off when we dropped "The Bomb". Now everyone is in a free for all, anarchy rules in a lot of regions and nations.

Insurgents are Iraqi citizens who lost loved ones, have no food or water, out-of-towners who hate America, just pissed off people that want to take pot shots at American soldiers, angry people used to a decade of sanctions and the tyrannical rule of old & new bosses.

I'm sure everyone of them would love to live in a nation of peace and prosperity...no way will it happen.

[firefox]

3. You do realize they are trying to kill them don't you?

I mean it is not like they fly all over the world and draw huge salaries and garner expensive favors like our own WarCriminal.

The only real thing that needs to be said is that the oppressed are fighting back the best way they know how. We are already killing and torturing people even thought to be associated with opposition to the Empire. What does this guy want to do- put them on double-secret probation like in Animal House?

[bowens43]

4. There is nothing

that the resistance fighters have done that hasn't been done by US and British troops, including targeting civilans.

EVERY death that occurs as result of the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq is on America's hands.