"RAMADI, Iraq -- U.S. Marine airstrikes targeting insurgents sheltering in Iraqi residential neighborhoods are killing civilians as well as guerrillas along the Euphrates River in far western Iraq, according to Iraqi townspeople and officials and the U.S. military.

Just how many civilians have been killed is strongly disputed by the Marines and, some critics say, too little investigated. But townspeople, tribal leaders, medical workers and accounts from witnesses at the sites of clashes, at hospitals and at graveyards indicated that scores of noncombatants were killed last month in fighting, including airstrikes, in the opening stages of a 17-day U.S.-Iraqi offensive in Anbar province.

"These people died silently, complaining to God of a guilt they did not commit," Zahid Mohammed Rawi, a physician, said in the town of Husaybah. Rawi said that roughly one week into Operation Steel Curtain, which began on Nov. 5, medical workers had recorded 97 civilians killed. At least 38 insurgents were also killed in the offensive's early days, Rawi said."



Ron,

"I haven't noticed you laying your life on the line for Mideast progress."

Nor have you. If that is the criteria you insist on, who here is even entitled to talk about the issue?




"It would be good if you developed another skill than copy-pasting---to pick a purely theoretical suggestion-----how about thinking? "

So, anyone who does not agree with you is not thinking? Seems ad hominim to me- I guess you really DON'T have any information that would contribute to the discussion.



Let me see- If I state my opinion, I am criticised for not having sources. When I state sources, I am criticised for "cut and paste".