Why won't the Pentagon release records of Iraqi Civilians killed by Troops?

Question

By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | October 9, 2007

WASHINGTON - The firestorm over the Sept. 16 shooting of more than a dozen unarmed Iraqis by members of Blackwater USA, a private security firm, has sparked renewed calls for the US military to release its own records related to the killing of Iraqi civilians at checkpoints or near convoys.
Many hundreds of Iraqi civilians have been killed or injured by US forces for getting too close to checkpoints or convoys over the past four years, according to US military documents and officials.

Private security contractors such as Blackwater and US soldiers are authorized to fire at vehicles that get too close to convoys or checkpoints, after giving a series of warnings known as "escalation of force."

US military officials say they have launched a successful effort to reduce the number of such shootings by training soldiers to give more visible warnings, but the Pentagon so far has declined to release data to back up the assertion."

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING????

Answer 1

Yes the terrorists (Oh no, im so scared -_-), most of whom were sparked into existance by the Iraq war. I still find it amazing that the cruise-missiling of major citys isnt widely viewed as terrorism, even though it created TERROR and KILLED CIVILIANS. Then again americans cant be blamed for their generally narrowminded views, their government controls the news for crying out loud (cough dictatorship cough).

Oh yeah and americas war for oil also got britain put on the list of islamic extremist "terrorist" targets... thanks for that georgey.

Answer 2

Umm, where in the world did you understand Hussein only gassed 1,500 Kurds after the Iran/Iraq war? His cousin, Chemical Ali, gassed over 100,000 Kurds total, not 1,500. By UN estimates alone, Saddam and his henchmen were directly responsible for almost 2 million deaths during his reign of terror during approx 20 years which includes the deaths in Iran and Kuwait from those wars. It also includes estimates of the killings by his secret police against ordinary Iraqi people as well against the others not of his favored tribe of birth. Notably in the south of Iraq, Shites I think. I sincerely doubt the figure of 100,000 Iraqi citizens dead at the hands of American troops is accurate. Did the US troops kill lots of people? Yes. How many? No one will ever know but certainly we can say very many died at the hands of the US led troops. Heck, not only was it a war, but during the so called peace after the war (sort of) ended, there were different groups vying for power plus old hatreds exposed without Saddam's iron grip to keep tight reign on them. People died, but what of the people who lived that woudl have died should Saddam stayed in power? Yes, the US should not have gone in, but why do you not address the people who would have been killed by Saddam? He killed on average 100,000 people a year, by UN estimates too. Who cries for those poor souls? If you truly care for the Iraqi people killed, why not look at the entire picture and not just the ones killed by the US? The US should not have gone in their, but hindsight is always 20/20. However, it serves no purpose to anyone to exaggerate about the amount dead for either side. Only 1,500 dead under Hussein after the Iraq/Iran war? Are you only counting one mass murder when he killed millions? You are comparing only a few killed by Saddam against supposedly a hundred thousand killed by the US. Not a real comparison, obviously. Give me a break. Get real pal, get real.

Answer 3

i like the con justifications here. "the terrorists use civilians as shields, consequently, civilians die" so "please let our troops do their jobs" by killing terrorists without regard for civilian lives.

but that isn't the question you asked, is it?

the question was, why doesn't this administration want the facts released to the public, and that answer is simple: because they don't want the public to know exactly how high the death toll has been, and they want to avoid media attention to those numbers by manipulating and hiding FACTS.

Answer 4

As President Bush has repeatedly said—those responsible for civilian deaths are terrorists—and if we admitted to the civilian casualties we are responsible for, that would make us…uh…terrorists.

Answer 5

If you've ever been there you know what the troopies are up against, they show incredible restraint but sometimes mitsakes are made. But U.S. military goes above and beyond when adhering to rules of engagement that in WWII would have been thrown out the window. Why don't you stop trying to find fault and give the troops the support they need while doing an incredibly difficult mission. War is hell!!!

Answer 6

I'm sure that the Bush's 70% disapproval ratings are higher than what they say. Telling the complete truth would make it worse.

Answer 7

In any other war throughout US history has any other report like this been released while such war is still ongoing? Why this particular war and why now? What will that do if those records are released? What would be the point?

I say keep them sealed for good or at least until the war is over.

Answer 8

Evidently, they have something to hide.

Answer 9

Because the numbers would be astronomical and it is hard to say you are "liberating a country" when you kill thousands of civilians.

Answer 10

In every war civilians take the most damage.

The terrorists are hiding behind civilian targets and shooting our men.

Please let our men fight, and don't stand up for the terrorists.