Coming on the heels of the Haditha Massacre, this story just tore my heart out. It’s one of those stories that I was about to post in the News Bucket, but had too much to say about it and decided to post a diary instead.
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The shooting death of a pregnant Iraqi, apparently by U.S. troops, as she was rushing to a hospital threw an intense spotlight Wednesday on the troubling issue of Iraqi civilian deaths.
Iraqi police and witnesses said the troops gunned down the woman and her cousin in their car. The U.S. military said the car entered a clearly marked prohibited area but failed to stop despite repeated signals; shots were fired to disable the vehicle, it said.
The 35 yr old pregnant woman was being rushed to the hospital by her brother; also in the car was their cousin, a 57 yr old woman. The road had been recently blocked by American troops, but apparently the word had not gotten out to outlying areas. As they rushed to hospital so Nabiha Nisaif Jassim could give birth, they inadvertantly drove on the forbidden road.
The Americans said that they fired warning shots to no avail before peppering the car with the bullets that killed both women, and Nabiha’a unborn baby. Now, I’ve never been in a car racing to the hospital with a pregnant woman, but I imaging that it could be a bit tense and chaotic. No wonder they didn’t notice the American troops.
“May God take revenge on the Americans and those who brought them here,” Jassim’s brother told the AP. “People are shocked and fed up with the Americans. People in Samarra are very angry with the Americans not only because of Haditha case but because the Americans kill people randomly, especially recently.”
More and more Iraqis are under the opinion that Americans don’t value Iraqi lives. It’s a refrain that I’ve read and heard over and over lately. This article goes on to give statistics on Iraqi civilian deaths and it isn’t pretty. The claims of retribution whenever an American life is lost are rampant.
“Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi told the BBC that the allegations have “created a feeling of great shock and sadness and I believe that if what is alleged is true — and I have no reason to believe it’s not — then I think something very drastic has to be done.”
“There must be a level of discipline imposed on the American troops and change of mentality which seems to think that Iraqi lives are expendable,” said Pachachi, a member of parliament.” link
In response to the Haditha massacre the US military is going to give mandatory ethics and cultural training to every troop serving in Iraq:
May 31, 2006 — Members of the U.S. military in Iraq will receive core values training beginning Thursday, as a result of the incident in Haditha in which American troops allegedly murdered 24 Iraqi civilians.
The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, will announce the new directive Thursday, assigning the training to all 130,000 U.S. troops over the next 30 days.
All service members will view a slide presentation with vignettes that highlight the importance of adhering to legal, moral and ethical standards on the battlefield.
The directive emphasizes professional military values, the importance of disciplined professional conduct in combat and an explanation of what to expect of Iraqi culture.
This must mean that up until now, no cultural training has been received. Lack of cultural understanding is often blamed for the number of incidents involving civilians.
Will this training add more stress to an already stressed out fighting force? Kilo Company, the Marines responsible for Haditha, are on their third tour of duty in Iraq and obviously under tremendous stress. I suppose it’s better to have the training; better late than never.
The Silver Lining
One thing I see happening as a result of so much tragedy is discussion. I turned on CNN this morning to the middle of a deep discussion on battle stress and PTSD. It is healthy to carry on a national discussion of these horrible deaths and question not only why it is happening, but how we can help troubled soldiers after they come home. Perhaps it will lead to discussion on how the Bush admin is cutting money and services and increasing fees for veterans seeking help and treatment.
My heart was torn when I read the story of Nabiha Nisaif Jassim and her poor baby. That baby was about to come into the world and was cruelly slaughtered along with it’s mother. The expectant father, waiting anxiously at the hospital only to have her arrive bloody and dead, along with their unborn child. No wonder Iraqis believe that Americans don’t value any lives but their own.
This whole subject of US atrocities, whether it’s torture or wholesale killing of Iraqi civilians just rips my heart right out. I still find it difficult to wrap my head around. I ache with sorrow for the families torn apart or snuffed out in an instant. I also find it excruciating to imagine what our men and women are going through over there… and Bush and Rummy keep sending them back over and over again.
I’m glad that there seems to be a national discussion starting on the subject. That is the only good thing I can see coming out of this.
My Dear, you have addressed some very dear issues here. See, this is all about war. The adage that war is hell, is so accurate. This is why war really must be the last avenue to follow.
Collateral damage is what it is called. What a severe development we have surcome to. We, all, really must step back and access the total of this whole incident. I think you have. We just do not go far enough on this issue. I also it was said that the brother-male-said that there was not a warning or security notification. If this is true, there we are, yet another murder. I sure hope the Christian right get their belies full of this sort of thing, what with their standing on abortion and all. However, I do believe, they will say, one less “__” (fill in the blank) or what ever they call the Iraqi’s nowadays.
Rummy has broken our military in its extreme design/function. It simply can not go on much longer before we have no military at all. When we have mercenaries doing the job of our military or contractors contributing to this fraud, as well. Plus, they do not play by the same rules of our military…none of them. I am very animate about this one!
Before we can address problem and it’s issues, we have to stand back and look at what we want as a society. I think I know the answer to this one, but it really does deserve open debate, and needs to start back..oh, lets say, 2001 just right after the busheeeees took office or before. What with rummy and cheney at the helm of our country’s ship at sea, we are in the eye of a severe storm that will sink our entire ship without even a blink of an eye.
One can not keep going on like the energizer bunny and not take a toll on the ones in the field. Some of these ppl were deployed more than once to the field of battle/in-country.
We as a society must address this. After all, we pay these ppl. They serve us. Rummy and his like, the executive, judiciary,…military…all of them, are reimbursed by our tax dollars. We are their employer. We have an obligation to say what goes on….oh, I can hear it now, Brenda, are you nuts? NO I am not. This is they way our democracy was made, constitution, and all, and as far as I know, we still do have a constitution and our democracy. Risky, I know, it is falling short of what we really do as to what it means. None the less, it still, is ours…all of ours…just do not forget that!
Now lets debate the powers that be with this. Let our voices be heard, honestly and sincerely. It is a need not a desire.
Thanks, Nag. I am with you here on this issue.
Oh Brenda, thanks you so much for your wonderful, thoughtful response. You are right, right, right! Kilo Company, the marines who are responsible for Haditha, are on their third Iraq tour. THIRD! How much can a person take? I see what Rummy is doing to our military and it’s a crime. He’s trying to outsource war, from who cooks the food to who builds the barracks to security details. It’s war profiteering plain and simple… which is a long tradition in the Bush family as well. They will break our military if they’re not stopped.
Brenda, I know that you have much experience and wisdom when you speak of the military and I respect you for always speaking your mind.
Oh Nag, Thank You so much for your kind words. I find that sometimes, when I do speak my mind, I get into deeeeeeep dooooodooooo! :o)
There is much that really does need addressed by many in our country with this administration and the damage they are doing to our country. It will take us many decades to reform the damage they have done to us, as a nation.
Anyhow, this incident needs close attention and investigation as to what really did happen. One of these days, we will wake up and find all of our men and women in the military are really fighting for their lives for survival. This will not be a pretty picture to behold…as if it is now. I think we all have gone way beyond the pale and there is not one point that we can do any good now. We really must leave, if we want our military to stay alive. It will not get any better…..:o( Anyhow this is how I see it.
The fact that S0 many Americans have bought into the idea that horrors like this are simply “unavoidable in times of war,” and can turn away after labeling it “collateral damage” makes my soul sick.
I read things like this, then to go out into the city and see everyone going on with life “as is”, as if none of this is happening..right now, today..it just makes me feel truly insane.
I want to grab people and shout..”Don’t you KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE, IN OUR NAME? DON’T YOU CARE THAT WE ARE SACRFICING AMERICAN LIVES, BODIES AND MINDS IN THIS HORRENDOUS MESS THAT DIDN’T HAVE TO EVEN HAPPEN, AND ARE MURDERING INNOCENTS RIGHT AND LEFT EVERY SINGLE DAY?!”
I’d soon be locked up as a loony, and we all know it.
Ok, I need to get off this computer now. I am findng that I can only handle about one hour of exposure to todays insane realities in a day, and still function well in my everyday life.
Oh, Dear Scribe, as a nurse, I do understand y our position. I so understand. I have to just say this one thing, when one wants to talk to the ppl that make the other side of the argument/debate, one has to use the terms they understand. Compassion is not one of them, sad to say. Using such terms as collateral damage, is just that. Life is of no concern to them. That is what I mean, get us the hell out before we are truly doomed. The men and women who see this stuff day after day and see the carnage of war, will never ever be the same. This will be a part of their lives from henceforth onward. Been there done that one. We just must stop this for our own sake. I am one who does not want this for our future citizens….nor any one else of any country.
What chills me more than anything, is how easy it is for so many Americans now, to simply “tune it all out” as if none of it is even going on. What does this say about the American people as a whole? I know so many truly good hearted people, evem in my own family, who seem totally “untouched” by any of this: who somehow have gotten to some point of complete detatchment where they choose NOT to even watch or read the news anymore, much less have a discussion about any of it. So often I hear some version of this: “There’s nothing I can do about any of it anyway, so why make myself miserable over it all..what good would that as if anyone?”
These are NOT uncaring people: they live good lives watching out for thier neighbor and living productive, loving lives. It almost has a protective flavor to it; by tuning it all out, they can go on with what they DO feel they have power and control over: thier own personal lives. While I can certainly understand this, it scares me silly at the same time, because what will happen to us, as a nation, when so many have tuned out and turned away? Will they even vote,(many tell me they no longer see any use in it) and if they do,how could it be an informed vote, if they’ve not followed the issues?
All I know is this: even within my own circle of liberal ! family and friends, I am not welcome to even bring UP most of the serious issues we face now. I am welcome to discuss anything BUT politics or the war.
Ack. Time to go visit the squirrels again!
Scribe, I empathize with you totally. Turning their backs on these issues allows people to continue their lives as if in a vacuum… or a bubble. We’re a bubble nation in many ways. I suppose it’s human nature not to care until it effects one personally. Otherwise good people can ignore atrocity and horror simply by not letting it effect them personally. I’ve also been told to relax and get away from the news a bit. I can’t. We are here because these things DO effect us personally… because we allow that to happen. Then there’s the right wingers, who salivate at stories like this. Those cretens make my stomach turn in sheer disgust.
The media is (finally) dealing with some of these issues because of Haditha. Those who watch the news will HAVE to be exposed to some of the discussion.
Just to add some more fuel to this fire, I went to the orange -gawd forbid, I actually did this thing- and look as what I am finding there!
from the orange
from the orange
Just some other thoughts on our military to go along with Nags diary. I congrat her on her views and I respect her for that, so much.
Thanks scribe for your thoughts as well. I respect your thoughts as well…so worthy…by knowing who and what you are and your heart. Hugs to you both.
Wow. Thank you so much, Brenda. I would have missed both of these diaries.
For those who may be interested, Brenda’s first link is to a diary from a soldier who was stationed in Haditha. The second reports on horrific living conditions that our troops were subjected to in Haditha. That and the fact that Kilo company was not only on their third tour in Iraq in 2 1/2 years, but they were among the first into Fallujah. (with it’s phospherous bombs, snipers taking out civilians and who knows what horrors) It fleshes out some of what I imagined they went through.
Now, let me throw you a curveball. I want to know if any of these returning marines and then redeployed to Iraq were on any antidepressants? I just got to thinking……..
There was a time when I would have taken anyone to task for calling this an atrocity. I would have pointed out the distinction between deliberate acts motivated by rage, hatred or even sadism and those which are the result of fear, confusion and (I don’t like saying this, but it’s a Big Lie to deny it) indifference.
That time has passed. Call it whatever you want. This has got to end. Whatever it was, the mother and child are just as dead… and they would not be if not for this goddamned war.
The war is the atrocity. Don’t let Bush get away with saying “No one could have predicted that Marines would snap under combat stress and go into a lethal frenzy” or “No one could have predicted that US Soldiers would come to despise the Iraqi people and, as a result of this and exposure to constant guerrilla attacks, would become trigger happy and turn the country into a shooting gallery”.
I’m waiting for the bastard to tell us “No one could have predicted that allowing mercenaries to operate in Iraq beyond the rule of law would result in wanton, random violence”. The truth is I can’t say there is always a clear distinction between atrocities and colateral damage. Go and watch this. What you see here are the deeds of mercenaries, not US Military personnel. I have to point out now that, while many mercenaries have a military background, they are not necessarily popular with their former comrades. The best part is watching the Commander-in-Chief struggle to answer a simple question about it. He doesn’t know nor does he care what is being done in his name.
What we call these incidents is of little consequence. Maybe some of us seek justice, I’m a big fan of justice myself, but I don’t even know how to begin to address that matter. And not even justice will bring back the dead. The only thing that matters is to end this madness. That can’t happen so long as Bush is in charge. It is he who is ultimately responsible for all of this, it couldn’t have happened without him. He is, after all, the Commander-in-Chief.
I say it’s time he was relieved of command.
Hi Motion. I think the whole theory in this diary is just the same as your thoughts. We all are outraged at the acts that are being done in our name. We all come from different mindsets and thoughts on matters. Sometime we just do not come through clearly enough to make it a one sentence statement that will make history. I think all of us are entirely fed up with this mess that this administration has gotten us in. Clearly it is not good! That would be a very understandable statement for what is being written on every topic online here and on all the progressive/liberal sites everywhere.
We too have to relieve ourselves of our emotions. This venue is the one I personally have choosen. This particular diary has devised the shock&awe of/at what we are witnessing such things done in our name. If it were the Polish troops doing things such as this, would we still be as upset?
I will be abherent enough to say this one thing and then I will drop the rhetoric. If and when one goes through basic training, say good bye to your family,friends and others, and then find yourself doing this for the 2nd or 3rd or 4th time, and you are a trained killer, masterful enough to kill and not think one thing about it and then find what you do is wrong after the fact, and that your country that gave you this training and the DoD that sent you there to do his bidding and the POTUS is not strong enough to say we made a mistake and back off, then is when we will find ourselves marred in such a swamp of murder, arrogence and denial. We have to as a society look clearly into what is happening to our brothers, husbands, mothers, sisters, etc. This is not a pretty picture and will not be pretty for decades to come.
I do not think Nag has any idea of just how disturbed she feels. This has got to be a very hard thing to digest for many, who is not commonly educated in military protacol, mindset, etc. I have to agree with her that this is not a good thing. But we have to face the fact that this is how it happens and is done. I think we all need to at least once in our lives witness how our young is trained for combat. This will open ones eyes to reality. This is an education totally so different to how we live and do our lives in daily living as a whole. Then to turn around and redeploy these same ppl to do and witness these things we called war, it is an abuse of our society.
May god have mercy on all our souls. I pray this will never happen again, ever…we said this about 35 years or so ago, NO 50+ years or so ago!!!!…no one took heed and while we slept, these criminals took control and lead us into the abyss. God help us all…and now this same group of ppl are thinking Iran!!!! What kind of minds/hearts do they have!!? What kinds of hearts and souls do they have!? They are all murderers…they use us to do their contracts of said actions. We have to start to refuse to do this at some point. Hugs
Perhaps the soldiers who killed the pregnant woman weren’t filled with rage or hatred at that moment. They were actually doing what they were trained to do. Do you think that woman’s husband can make that distinction? You’re absolutely right:
“The war is the atrocity.”
I never for one second forget who is behind this. We must include Cheney… he is the puppetmaster.
Brenda is right about me… these things shake me up quite badly. I would be horrified but not crushed if the Poles carried out these acts. These things are being done in our name. I can’t help but feel intense sorrow at what we’re doing to our young men and women over there. It’s almost physically painfull to read the stories and see the pictures of Iraqi civilians. Empathy is a painful blessing. I guess Brenda is right when she says ‘war is hell’ and this is it. The complicity of our media in keeping this war nice and sanitized for our protection is not doing us any favors. The government knows that if the people saw exactly what goes on in war they would NEVER support one. (Jeeze, could perpetual peace be that easy?)
I agree with what you say, Brownian Motion and it is a painful thing to consider. Our country, under the leadership of an idiot who doesn’t know he’s a puppet, has committed atrocity in our name. He’s poised to do it again and I feel so helpless to stop it. I’m ashamed at what is being done in my name. Iraqis think Americans don’t value life as they do. Shame. The world sees us torture, maim and kill. Shame. We’re driving our young men and women to the brink of insanity and misery. Shame.
Removing the bastards from office would be great… seeing them rot in jail would be the best.