US army Colonel William Mayville apologised today for the killing of an Iraqi child by mortar rounds fired by his forces as the boy's family picnicked in the northern oil region of Kirkuk....U.S. troops in Iraq are being killed, almost exclusively, by roadside bombs, as well as the occasional morter being lobbed into their bases. Responding to this by firing morters at "an area" where you "think" there are insurgents is simply an absurd military strategy, particularly when you're in the midst of a vast civilian population. Only a military which assigned no value at all to the lives of the people whose country it was occupying could adopt such a strategy. Which, of course, is precisely the case. Even if they're willing to pay $2,500. Because to a military which has spent more than $100 billion fighting a war, $2,500 is precisely nothing.
"The family was out on a picnic for the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha some 10 kms south of Kirkuk when US mortar rounds landed around lunch time, according to Iraqi police Lieutenant Laith Naji el-Obeidi.
"Mayville said troops of his 173rd Airborne Brigade opened fire because they suspected insurgents were in the area.He said the soldiers found responsible for the deadly error would be held accountable.
"He added he ordered the payment of $US2,500 ($A3,270) in compensation for the family of the nine-year-old boy, Bassam Sami Awwad, and $US1,500 ($A1,965) for each of the three injured."
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Why do they hate us - I've lost count
From Left I
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