Qana Death Toll at 28 (Human Rights Watch investigation)

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/c934b8a94f226d3ab6461928c606cb65.htm

Israel/Lebanon: Qana Death Toll at 28

(Beirut, August 2, 2006) ? A preliminary Human Rights Watch investigation into the July 30 Israeli air strike in Qana found that 28 people are confirmed dead thus far, among them 16 children, Human Rights Watch said today.

"The deaths in Qana were the predictable result of Israel's indiscriminate bombing campaign in Lebanon," said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch. "Only an impartial international investigation can find out what really took place."

The initial estimate of 54 persons killed was based on a register of 63 persons who had sought shelter in the basement of the building that was struck, and rescue teams having located nine survivors. It now appears that at least 22 people escaped the basement, and 28 are confirmed dead, according to records from the Lebanese Red Cross and the government hospital in Tyre.

...

The Israeli government initially claimed that the military targeted the house because Hezbollah fighters had fired rockets from the area. Human Rights Watch researchers who visited Qana on July 31, the day after the attack, did not find any destroyed military equipment in or near the home. Similarly, none of the dozens of international journalists, rescue workers and international observers who visited Qana on July 30 and 31 reported seeing any evidence of Hezbollah military presence in or around the home. Rescue workers recovered no bodies of apparent Hezbollah fighters from inside or near the building.

[uppityperson]

1. Thank you for the update

Glad more escaped than thought previously. RIP and sorrow to those who didn't.

[lindisfarne]

2. How many times has the US fired bombs and rockets and no evidence

(physical, such as rocket launchers, dead US soldiers, etc.) of their having been in a location remains? If Hezbollah was shooting rockets at night, few people would have been out to see them, and one can legitimately question whether those who saw them would report it.

While Israel certainly should work to minimize civilian casualties, Hezbollah certainly should not be excused from using civilians as shields for their actions; by launching rockets within a civilian area, they are able to manipulate public opinion against Israel when Israel retaliates and hits civilians.

There's such a rush here to criticize Israel that people forget to consider Hezbollah's actions, which are just as bad as Israel's (if not worse: Israel at least doesn't use its civilian population as human shields). If Hezbollah would stop firing rockets from within locations where civilians are to be found, the Lebanese civilian death toll would be less.

Before anyone criticizes Israel in response, ask yourself how you would react if one of your neighbors started shooting guns indiscriminately in your neighborhood with the potential to kill you or a member of your family. I'm certain you would not just sit there. Without a doubt, you would call the police. Unfortunately, there isn't a world police for nations to call on (the UN has failed miserably in this role due to veto power of certain nations) and nations must defend themselves when being attacked.

Hezbollah is certainly not simply trying to protect the Lebanese. All accounts suggest that it aims to destroy Israel. After Israel, which nation will be next? Such extremists anywhere (whether white supremacists or Muslim extremists or gang members 5 miles down the road from you) should be stopped.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. How Should Turkey Handle Recent Kurdish Attacks?

Bomb Bagdhad Airport? Mosul? Sadr City?

Face it, the attacks are disproportionate and target the wrong people.