34,000 Iraqi civilians killed in 2006, U.N. reports
NCfan
Posts: 945
Nobody knows the exact figures, but I think it is important to point out that the vast majority of these dead Iraqi civillians were not killed by American forces. Most were killed by their fellow Iraqis. The U.S. is not going around setting off bombs in markets, that is for sure. It seems to me most everytime I read about Iraqi's getting killed, it's becuase of an IED going off in a neighborhood, etc - not becuase Iraqi's were involved in a gun battle with US troops.
America had a civil war about 150 years ago, and we killed well over a million of our own before all was said and done. There were families divided with son fighting father and brother fighting brother in some cases. This is what is going on in Iraq right now, except for one HUGE difference!
It is important to point out that when Americans faught Americans, we formed armies and they fought each other. It was soldier versus soldier. In Iraq, civilians are targeted MORE than other combatants. Think about how savage this is you guys!!!!!! It just chaps my ass when people on here talk about how Americans are murderers. Do you even realize the barbaric nature of the civil war going on there now?
So basically, I would just like to point out that America is not the total bad guy here that we are made out to be. We tried to do something good, but we botched our effort and set off a civil war that has been brewing for three decades. That was our fault, and that is where we should take the full blame.
Yes, our soldiers have killed. But what we have done bad (Abu Ghraib, etc.) looks like Christmas morning compared to the violence that is raging now. But most people on this board just excuse the beheadings and bombings in neighborhood markets as the fault of the United States. It's like the Iraqi's can commit the most heinous crimes imaginable and people just point the finger at America.
I just hate how everybody is frustrated at what is going on in Iraq right now, but they put the large majority of the blame on the US. People act like Cheney and Bush are drooling over the people dying in Iraq and the Haliburton contracts that are being signed. As if as soon as they leave office in 09, they're gonna buy a private island and leave.....
I support this war and I always have, but i freely admit that our administration and the military leadership has botched the hell out of this effort. And YES, I do believe that some of the mistakes are borderline criminal.... But none-the-less... so much of the rhetoric that comes from the anti-war camp is just irresponsible non-sense!!!
POSTED: 8:56 a.m. EST, January 16, 2007
Story Highlights• NEW: "Massive" car bomb near university kills at least 15 in Baghdad
• U.N. report says more than 34,000 civilians "violently killed" in Iraq in 2006
• Death toll for November-December slightly lower than previous two months
• At least 38 killed and 135 wounded Tuesday by bombs in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- More than 34,000 civilians were "violently killed" across Iraq last year, with an average of 94 killed every day, according to a new United Nations report.
The grim figures came on a day when bombs, including a "massive" car bomb near a university, killed at least 38 Iraqis in Baghdad.
The bimonthly Human Rights Report of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, covering November and December, tallied the casualties of nearly a year of relentless sectarian strife, which skyrocketed after the bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra on February 22.
"According to information made available to UNAMI, 6,376 civilians were violently killed in November and December 2006, with no less than 4,731 in Baghdad, most of them as a result of gunshot wounds," the report said.
"Compared to the number killed in September and October, there has been a slight reduction. It is evident however that violence has not been contained but has continued to claim a very high number of innocent victims. During 2006, a total of 34,452 civilians have been violently killed and 36,685 wounded."
The report said the "situation is particularly grave in Baghdad" and that "sectarian violence, especially in Baghdad, is singled out as a major cause for an ever-growing trend in displacement and migration of all Iraqis, as well as the targeting of various professional groups, including educators, medical professionals, journalists, judges and lawyers, religious and political leaders."
Dozens killed, wounded in Baghdad bombings
In Baghdad on Tuesday, 38 people were killed and 135 wounded in four bombings, according to Iraqi Interior Ministry officials.
A massive car bomb exploded outside the Mustansiriya University in northeastern Baghdad about 4 p.m. (8 a.m. ET), killing at least 15 people and wounding 45 others, an Interior Ministry official said.
In two of the other incidents, two bombs were timed to detonate in the same area minutes apart, an official said.
The deadliest attack happened at midday when a bomb exploded near an Iraqi police convoy along a main road in central Baghdad, the official said.
When police and others responded to that blast, a second bomb exploded nearby, killing and wounding them. At least 15 people were killed and 70 wounded by the two bombs, the official said.
About two hours earlier, two Iraqi police officers who helped defuse a car bomb in central Baghdad's Karrada section were killed when another bomb hidden nearby exploded, the official said.
Two civilians were also killed in the blast, the official said. Ten people, including three policemen, were wounded by that bomb, the official said.
In Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood Tuesday, a bomb left inside a minivan killed four people and wounded 10 others, an Interior Ministry official said.
The blast occurred about 100 to 200 yards away from the main office of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose Mehdi Army is considered one of the major participants in the Iraqi capital's raging sectarian violence.
Sadr City is overwhelmingly Shiite, and has been the scene of much violence.
America had a civil war about 150 years ago, and we killed well over a million of our own before all was said and done. There were families divided with son fighting father and brother fighting brother in some cases. This is what is going on in Iraq right now, except for one HUGE difference!
It is important to point out that when Americans faught Americans, we formed armies and they fought each other. It was soldier versus soldier. In Iraq, civilians are targeted MORE than other combatants. Think about how savage this is you guys!!!!!! It just chaps my ass when people on here talk about how Americans are murderers. Do you even realize the barbaric nature of the civil war going on there now?
So basically, I would just like to point out that America is not the total bad guy here that we are made out to be. We tried to do something good, but we botched our effort and set off a civil war that has been brewing for three decades. That was our fault, and that is where we should take the full blame.
Yes, our soldiers have killed. But what we have done bad (Abu Ghraib, etc.) looks like Christmas morning compared to the violence that is raging now. But most people on this board just excuse the beheadings and bombings in neighborhood markets as the fault of the United States. It's like the Iraqi's can commit the most heinous crimes imaginable and people just point the finger at America.
I just hate how everybody is frustrated at what is going on in Iraq right now, but they put the large majority of the blame on the US. People act like Cheney and Bush are drooling over the people dying in Iraq and the Haliburton contracts that are being signed. As if as soon as they leave office in 09, they're gonna buy a private island and leave.....
I support this war and I always have, but i freely admit that our administration and the military leadership has botched the hell out of this effort. And YES, I do believe that some of the mistakes are borderline criminal.... But none-the-less... so much of the rhetoric that comes from the anti-war camp is just irresponsible non-sense!!!
POSTED: 8:56 a.m. EST, January 16, 2007
Story Highlights• NEW: "Massive" car bomb near university kills at least 15 in Baghdad
• U.N. report says more than 34,000 civilians "violently killed" in Iraq in 2006
• Death toll for November-December slightly lower than previous two months
• At least 38 killed and 135 wounded Tuesday by bombs in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- More than 34,000 civilians were "violently killed" across Iraq last year, with an average of 94 killed every day, according to a new United Nations report.
The grim figures came on a day when bombs, including a "massive" car bomb near a university, killed at least 38 Iraqis in Baghdad.
The bimonthly Human Rights Report of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, covering November and December, tallied the casualties of nearly a year of relentless sectarian strife, which skyrocketed after the bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra on February 22.
"According to information made available to UNAMI, 6,376 civilians were violently killed in November and December 2006, with no less than 4,731 in Baghdad, most of them as a result of gunshot wounds," the report said.
"Compared to the number killed in September and October, there has been a slight reduction. It is evident however that violence has not been contained but has continued to claim a very high number of innocent victims. During 2006, a total of 34,452 civilians have been violently killed and 36,685 wounded."
The report said the "situation is particularly grave in Baghdad" and that "sectarian violence, especially in Baghdad, is singled out as a major cause for an ever-growing trend in displacement and migration of all Iraqis, as well as the targeting of various professional groups, including educators, medical professionals, journalists, judges and lawyers, religious and political leaders."
Dozens killed, wounded in Baghdad bombings
In Baghdad on Tuesday, 38 people were killed and 135 wounded in four bombings, according to Iraqi Interior Ministry officials.
A massive car bomb exploded outside the Mustansiriya University in northeastern Baghdad about 4 p.m. (8 a.m. ET), killing at least 15 people and wounding 45 others, an Interior Ministry official said.
In two of the other incidents, two bombs were timed to detonate in the same area minutes apart, an official said.
The deadliest attack happened at midday when a bomb exploded near an Iraqi police convoy along a main road in central Baghdad, the official said.
When police and others responded to that blast, a second bomb exploded nearby, killing and wounding them. At least 15 people were killed and 70 wounded by the two bombs, the official said.
About two hours earlier, two Iraqi police officers who helped defuse a car bomb in central Baghdad's Karrada section were killed when another bomb hidden nearby exploded, the official said.
Two civilians were also killed in the blast, the official said. Ten people, including three policemen, were wounded by that bomb, the official said.
In Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood Tuesday, a bomb left inside a minivan killed four people and wounded 10 others, an Interior Ministry official said.
The blast occurred about 100 to 200 yards away from the main office of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose Mehdi Army is considered one of the major participants in the Iraqi capital's raging sectarian violence.
Sadr City is overwhelmingly Shiite, and has been the scene of much violence.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
supporting this war now and in the past is negligence in my opinion ... this is not a personal attack on anyone who does - it is just my opinion on the nature of this and most wars ... violence begets violence ... i hold it akin to lawsuits between two parties ... at the end of the day, the only people that really win are the lawyers ... and in this case, the only people who are winning are those signing big contracts with the US gov't ... domestically and foreign ...
How can you dismiss the stated goal of pushing the Middle East in a more progressive direction by removing a dictator as not being solid moral grounds?
Not sure what you mean there... I'm well aware of the civillian casualties in the American Civil War and I never aluded to them being "light" either... In fact they were very terrible! How about Sherman's march to the sea, burning every town he passed including Atlanta???
because history has shown that is not what america is interested in ... look at all the democratically elected leaders (including Iran) where america has overthrown ... america is only interested in puppet gov'ts that will hand over resources to american interests ... it is the real reason why britain and the US are in iraq ... they used to own the oil in iraq - when they nationalized it way back when - they've been trying to get back in ever since ... and guess what - they have succeded ...
On another note - do you think we would allow the Sunnis and Shi'a to form separate armies, complete with uniforms, vehicles, and artillary, so that they could "properly" fight a civil war? I don't either.
AND... what do you mean by 'progressive direction' please? Sounds a bit patronising to me... like your way of life is the best?
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
That is such a narrow view... you can't judge our actions today based on what we did 50 years ago. 50 years ago in America, blacks couldn't use the same restroom - but look at our society and our values today.
The world changes, societies evolve. You need to realize that because it is the truth. I don't think anybody would accuse Germany of trying to realize the dreams of the Third Reich if when they contributed troops to Afghanistan!
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
50 years ago?? ... do you think america's covert actions have stopped? ... consider columbia now and other parts of latin america ... the only difference is that most of your resources are in iraq ...
you played both sides of the fence in the iran/iraq war ... we're talking about who has driven america's foreign policy since the second world war ... nothing has changed ...
at least in Germany - I see memorials of the Nazi era - I'm pretty sure you are not taught about how you had Salvadore Allende assasinated and then put in place a dictator who was being tried for war crimes and human rights violiations until he died recently ... nor Suharto or any of the other puppet regimes america has put in place ...
No, they were not the stated grounds - but it abundantly clear that is what our goal is now.
But let me as you a question. Do you support gender discrimination (women can't work or vote), religious intolerance (believing in anything besides Islam is punishable by death), being a homosexual is against the law and punishable by death. Do you support those things, a yes or no will do....
Can you say I...R...A...N?????? Nope? Try axis-of-evil. Abundantly clear? My arse!
Don't give me this shite, Iraq was one of the most equal opportune countries in the middle east. You wanna talk about equal rights... let's talk about Saudi Arabia!!!!!!!! The worst human rights record in the world and yet they're perfectly acceptable. No, I don't support these things but no, I also know for a FACT that's not what your leader has in mind.
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Of course I don't... However, I wouldn't mind a bit if a democratic Iraq enacted all of those rules for the time being. A democratic government is the best instution available to peacefully overturn all of those ways of life.
Look at the US for instance. Used to womend couldn't vote and look what happened. Remember prohibition, you couldnt fucking drink in America for a few years. Look at the progress that has been made by blacks through our democratic system. It's just a matter of time before gays are allowed to get married in America.
These things take time to happen, and often we need generational turnover for them to take place. But establishing a democracy now, no matter how fucked up it might be is the first stepping stone.
Why don't you support these things???? Oh, no... could it be that you think your way of life is (GASP) better??????????????????????????????
Now, there is democracy in Iraq, however fragile. Do we hang around for a century to make sure it sticks?
Actually, we did need some help. We practiacally begged the French to help us defeat our masters in Britain and without their contributions we wouldn't have gained our independence.
However long we stick around depends. We've stuck around in Europe for the last 60 years to ensure it stays democratic and i don't think anybody has been yelling about that...
*disclaimer: I'm not saying I DO those things... but I can!
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Well why did you acuse me of thinking my way of life is better than what's going on in the Middle East, when so do you? Isn't that being a bit of a hypocrite?
This is the post in case you were wondering....
i'll take it that you still believe america wants to bring peace and flowers to the middle east ...
The western way of life is different (with the american way of life in a category of its own). We are not to impose our morals and values (and sometimes decadence!) on countries that have such different ways to us, especially when no effort is made to understand their way of life. We are not to judge whether it's 'in their interest' or not.
Are you drunk? Nobody is going on and on about anything. I'm not pounding my chest and shouting how America is so great. Im just citing history. It'sa fact that America helped to protect Europe from the Soviet Union with tens of thousands of troops.
No we didn't have troops in Ireland because it wasn't a strategic location to put them. There weren't 65 divisions of the Soviet army on your border where there? The same can't be said for Germany and other countries that bordered the Eastern Bloc.
But she didn't accuse me of wanting to force my way of life onto others. She accused me of merely THINKING my way of life is better than others..... That's just bullshit when she accuses me of something she agrees with!!!!
I think you do live where the sky's are purple... people judge each other and that is a great thing!
So.. if I (as part of the most powerful country in the world) judge that your way of life is 'wrong', I can impose mine by aggression??? hmmmmmm......