War Crimes Committed by the United States in Iraq
and Mechanisms for AccountabilitySNIP
1. Introduction
The opening of the U.S./British invasion campaign against Iraq in March 20031 was one of
intense aerial bombardment designed to create “shock and awe” among Iraqis. The goal was to
terrorize the Iraqi people and intimidate the Iraq military. For the U.S. public, watching through
their television screens, the opening of the war was little different than a video game. Military
briefings illustrated the effectiveness of “precision bombs”. Later, as the land campaign got
underway, military and media reports showed U.S. forces quickly moving north into central Iraq
and meeting less resistance than had been anticipated.
From the outside, the war seemed quick and contained. However, even at this stage multiple
breaches of international humanitarian law occurred. The precision bombs touted by the military
often were not. Hundreds of civilians were killed, and massive amounts of civilian property were
destroyed. Cluster bombs were dropped on urban areas, including residential neighborhoods.
Munitions containing depleted uranium were used in bombs and artillery shells. Tanks fired into
hotels and residential areas. The basic infrastructure of Iraq’s urban areas was, in many cases,
destroyed or disrupted by the invading forces.
Less well known is how the subsequent U.S./British policies and military actions in Iraq,
stretching from months into years, have included regular and serious breaches of international
law.
This paper describes the multiple and overlapping breaches of international humanitarian law
that have occurred during the U.S./British occupation of Iraq since 2003. Those infringements
have occurred at many levels, from senior members of the Bush administration, to senior military
leaders, to individual unit commanders, and to individual troops.
In responding to some of the most egregious violations of humanitarian law, the U.S.
administration and military authorities have focused on those who are sometimes termed “a few
bad apples.” This paper argues, however, that the choices made at more senior levels than the
ranks of individual soldiers have created the context in which regular abuses of civilians in
occupied Iraq are occurring. It is argued that: the failure to adequately rebuild the civilian and
social infrastructure; the failure to provide civilians with appropriate security; and the choices of
weapons and tactics often used in military operations all constitute war crimes. Regardless of the
rationale for invading and occupying Iraq, the U.S. and British governments, their commanders
and all their soldiers in the field are accountable for these grave breaches.
http://www.consumersforpeace.org/pdf/war_crimes_iraq_101006.pdf The report is in pdf format so you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to be able to read it. The Acrobat Reader is available for free here:
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