Iraq Guerrilla Attacks Called War Crimes

[Vance]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031122/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_human_rights&cid=540&ncid=1480


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Guerrillas who attack civilians in Iraq (news - web sites) for collaborating with the U.S.-led coalition are committing war crimes, a human rights group said Saturday.

International humanitarian law forbids targeting civilians, New York-based Human Rights Watch noted in a statement.


"Civilians working for the occupying power are not legitimate targets of attack," Human Rights Watch said.


The statement cited attacks on translators, government officials and community leaders, including Aquila al-Hashimi, a member of Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council who was gunned down near her Baghdad home on Sept. 20.


"All Iraqi civilians are protected by the Geneva Conventions," said Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division. "It doesn't matter whether they sympathize with the U.S. occupation, or with the insurgents."


Human Rights Watch also cited the deaths of Sargoun Murado, who represented Assyrian Christians on the municipal council of the southern city of Basra; two prominent judges, Muhan Jabir al-Shuwaili and Ismail Yusif; and Faris Abdul-Razzaq al-Asam, Baghdad's deputy mayor.

[Lobo]

"Illegal attacks to civils committed by a guerrilla force"... My mother tongue is not English but I think there's a shorter way to say the same: Terrorism. :|

[martinexsquaddie]

I think there trying to frame it in some form of legal talk. rathyer than use terroism which does'nt really cover all forms of attacks in iraq.

[Ratamacue]

Not every guerrilla is a terrorist. Most of them seem to target soldiers alone, but attacks against civilians are becoming progressively more common.

[S'13]

What separates guerilla warfare from terrorism is the simple fact that guerilla fighters attack military targets while terrorists attack civilian targets...

[Tom.G]

I think its possible that there are several anti-coalition factions in Iraq. Al-Qaeda related ones might be targeting civilians. But the real Iraqi resistance would not want to kill other Iraqis, so they target coalition forces.

I also don't think its right to call them Terrorists when they attack coalition forces.

[Lobo]

The "technical" differences between "terrorism" and "guerrilla warfare" are more than their objectives. From that narrow point of view that plane that was crashed against the Pentagon was a guerrilla attack, not a terrorist attack.

[Va_Dinger]

The "technical" differences between "terrorism" and "guerrilla warfare" are more than their objectives. From that narrow point of view that plane that was crashed against the Pentagon was a guerrilla attack, not a terrorist attack.

What in the hell are you talking about?

[One?]

Killing soldeirs defending or resisting an occupatio is classified as gurrila warfare.

Killing civilians for the sake of who knows what then thats terrorism


Both of these are happening in Iraq so you cannot generalize.

[Theatreman]

one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

terrorist scum killing soldiers and blowing up civilians, hurts when the news hits home of these cowardly killings.
its good to see that the US now recognises terrorism, for years weve had it in Northern Ireland but across the Atlantic they were the 'boyos from the old country fighting for their freedom'. Its just a real pity it took Sept 11th for some people to realise it.
we have been stuck in NI for over 30 years now, how long will the US be in Iraq?

[front]

"we have been stuck in NI for over 30 years now,"

"You" have been "stuck" in Ireland for a lot longer than that my friend.

cheers

front

[Roger Rabbit]

Depending how you want to look at it then Ireland and more specifically Northern Ireland has been stuck with us for a long time.

[Theatreman]

""You" have been "stuck" in Ireland for a lot longer than that my friend.
cheers
front
on this current episode i think youll find it started in 1969, around 30 years ago, and i have been there for over 30 years, i live there.

cheers

[Theatreman]

Killing soldeirs defending or resisting an occupatio is classified as gurrila warfare.
Killing civilians for the sake of who knows what then thats terrorism
Both of these are happening in Iraq so you cannot generalize.

so who are the terrorists? arent the coalition forces killing civilians? for what? failing to stop on time at a road check point?
its a whole nest of vipers over there, but you can see the similarities between france in WW2 and modern day Iraq, resistance fighters, murdering collaborators etc......its a way of life in an occupied country.

[Theatreman]

Depending how you want to look at it then Ireland and more specifically Northern Ireland has been stuck with us for a long time.
blah blah NI, i was merely using it as an example of US funded terrorism, and how one mans terrorist is anothers hero, then suddenly bang, theres an incident and we have a US led war on terror, and trying to find out how long our American friends think theyll be over there.

[Royal]

My old man lost two of his section in an OIRA ambush in 1952. Gerry Adams's father (God rot his soul) was wounded in a gunfight by the RUC in 1942 (pity they didn't kill the bastard - would have solved all sorts of problems).

It's been going on since long before Cromwell got his ugly mug involved there.

[Theatreman]

so when did British Soldiers deploy to Northern Ireland in support of the RUC? 1969?
of course there have been British Soldiers in Northern Ireland for many years and always will have because its part of GB, and we have troops garrisoned all over GB, but this 'recent' deployment began in 1969.
i dont think we need a United Kingdom and Northern Ireland history lesson when this thread is about Iraq, read the posts and try not to be sidetracked.

[Roger Rabbit]

I believe William the Conquer went to bash the Irish for a bit but my history for that time is a bit shady so don't quote me.

[WARPIG]

Once again.. for the dumbasses.
guerrila: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage
~this means small unit tactics that harass or sabage military targets for tactical gain.... in plain english. If those words are too big please perform percussive maintenance on your forhead.
terrorist: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
terror:violence (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands
~this means an act that is meant to scare or instill fear on a population or organization (to include a military organization) by targeting non-combatants with harm or inhumane acts.

I know this is a very difficult concept for many of you and it is a lot of big words to fathom.. I mean comprehend..er uh.. solve. There solve. OK? Do the best you can and remember if it gets too confusing .. hit your head on something.

[Royal]

I understand perfectly.

The Luftwaffe, RAF and USAAF conducted terror operations during WWII. Now we're all civilised and only conduct combat operations.

Edit

I'm pissed off with trying to explain Ops to ignorant politicians, who think everything is black and white.

It ain't.

[WARPIG]

No offense Royal..
Stupidity chaps my ass.. hope my rant didn't spew on you too much.

Good point. Even by my definition for dummies, terror and guerilla warfare is based on perspective.

[Royal]

None taken mate.

Sorry, lost my rag :oops: