Civilians, as usual, are the ones living the hardships of occupation . . .

[bigtree]

IRAQ: Residents Struggle to Survive, In and Out of Ramadi
by Dahr Jamail
and Ali Fadhil

June 23, 2006

Many of the families who had left are facing "horrible living conditions . . .

"There is no positive sign on the American side that shows a different solution from those of Fallujah and other cities which have been 'deleted' in order to be 'liberated'," he added. "Civilians, as usual, are the ones living the hardships of occupation and definitely the ones dying in vain."

"The Americans, instead of attacking the city all at once like they've done in their previous operations in cities like Fallujah and Al-Qa'im, are using helicopters and ground troops to attack one district at a time in Ramadi," Maurizio Mascia, programme manager for the Italian Consortium of Solidarity (ICS), a non-governmental group based in Amman, Jordan that provides relief to refugees in Iraq, told IPS from his office in Amman.

"Access to Ramadi is extremely difficult," he continued. "The checkpoints are set up at the two bridges and make it extremely difficult to access the city by vehicle. The only available option to avoid the checkpoints is the desert way heading to Al-Ta'meem district."

"The main dangers for the population are the MNF at the checkpoints and the snipers: both usually shoot at any movement that they consider dangerous -- causing many victims among civilians."

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=10469

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. But..but..we can't just "cut and run". It would send the wrong message.

What would the electorate think if we just pulled out and stopped killing people? We must "Support the Troops". After all, we need more monuments in Washington with lots of names on them.

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.” - Gandhi