U.S. Pays Death Claims For Iraqi Civilians, But Won't Prosecute

[pitseleh1]

The UK Guardian reports this morning that more than 10,000 Iraq families have come forward with wrongful death suits against U.S. soldiers who "shot dead or seriously wounded unarmed Iraqi civilians with no apparent cause." Though the U.S. military has paid out $1.5 million in claims so far, the acceptance of compensation at this point (when many Iraqis are of course sorely in need of economic assistance) often involves waiving the right for further compensation.

Furthermore, as the Guardian reports, "no American soldier has been prosecuted for illegally killing an Iraqi civilian and commanders refuse even to count the number of civilians killed or injured by their soldiers."

With troops completely unaccountable for murdering innocent civilians, the occupation is starting sounding more and more like the Baath regime.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Dupe of Guardian report.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=240809