Eliminating body-counters
Apparently, the U.S. has been eliminating those who count civilian deaths in Iraq. I can understand why American generals would want to hide the number of civilian casualties: large numbers of dead innocents enrages the Iraqi resistance and erodes support for the war at home. They see the suppression as justified because what casualties there are are unavoidable (and they do deserve credit for keeping this number as low as it is), and because the rest of the world just doesn’t understand the realities of war. But they’re wrong.
The world has a right to know what’s going on in Iraq. If we have to lie to justify the war, the war is not justified. Now, the mere existence of civilian casualties does not unjustify the war. World War II had millions of civilian casualties, and nobody considers it unjustified. But they can certainly contribute to the feeling that a war simply isn’t worth it. If the Iraq War has reached this point, the world deserves to know.
However, even if their end is justified, nothing justifies the means they’re using. Nothing justifies targeting civilians. Killing journalists is bad enough. Invading hospitals and bombing clinics is appalling.
By using these tactics, the United States continues to sacrifice its moral authority.
[spotter=Danny Ayers]
