Rupert Cornwell @ Independent via ICH
The fish rots from the head down. The thought comes to mind as this misbegotten conflict in Iraq - embarked upon by President Bush on the basis of at best false information, at worst downright lies - moves well into its fourth year.
Not only is no end in sight, but Americans must now contemplate the accumulating and distressing evidence that the military they are told is the mightiest, best-trained and best-intentioned fighting force in the history of the planet may have committed atrocious war crimes.
Only last week we celebrated Memorial Day, when the President pays his traditional homage to the fallen heroes of wars past.
But it feels like an age ago, as details have unfolded of at least two shocking incidents - the apparent revenge murder of a civilian at Hamandiyah in April, and, most stunning of all, what seems to have been a massacre by US marines of two dozen Iraqis, including women, children and entire families, in Haditha last November.
On Friday evening, the US military denied claims of a third atrocity, the alleged round-up and killing of 11 people at Ishaqi in March, but without laying all doubts to rest.
Taken separately each might be considered one of those appalling things that happen in any war, especially in brutal counter-insurgency conflicts like Iraq.
Haditha in particular would seem to fit that mould. A marine patrol from Kilo company had just lost one of its men to a roadside bomb, planted and detonated by the usual unseen enemy. Already under intense stress, some of his colleagues appear to have snapped.;.........
No comments:
Post a Comment