So tell me, who were we supposed to be protecting in Iraq?

[bigtree]

'1,300 dead' in Iraq sectarian violence

Tuesday February 28, 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1719976,00.html

As many as 1,300 people could have died in the wave of sectarian violence that swept Iraq following the bombing of a gold-domed shrine in Samarra, it was reported today.

The Washington Post said officials at Baghdad's main morgue had logged more than 1,300 deaths since the attack on the al-Askari shrine - one of the holiest sites in Shia Iraq - on Wednesday.

Most of the dead had been shot, knifed or garroted, often with their hands tied execution-style behind their backs, the report said.

It added that the blood-caked bodies of hundreds of men lay unclaimed outside the morgue as distraught families searched for missing relatives yesterday.

full report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1719976,00.html

[zanne]

1. The British press has a different take on it.

I was watching BBC News this morning and they were emphasizing the number 1300 dead. I switched over to NBC, CBS and ABC and they were emphasizing a much lower number.

[bigtree]

4. I'm stunned at the chasm between the 60 number and the thousands number

Is the lower number a product of Rumsfeld's information control?

[babylonsister]

2. From what I understand, the US isn't supposed to take sides

in this civil war (because yes, that's what it's looking like to me). But if that's the case, please remind me exactly why the US is over there if they're not supposed to be intruding.
And then I heard a talking head this weekend parroting Powell: We broke it, we own it. :eyes:

[bigtree]

6. There's no reason at all why our troops should still be there.

The lower number put the lid on, but I think the higher total, if it holds, will have some impact on the public push to quit Iraq. It's sad that the only thing that seems to have any impact on efforts to end this war are the deaths.

[Drum]

3. Dontcha know? Protecting the WHIG & subsidiaries.... nt

[KG]

5. protecting war profiteers has become the US militarys mission

[genie_weenie]

10. That always was the Military's job

go into the backwards land and set the conditions so "pioneering" businessmen could bring the wonders of modern society to the heathens...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Our "Vital National Interests" aka $$$$$$$$

And, our "National Honor" aka the ability to shout "USA! USA!"

[Toots]

8. Did the oil sheiks get hit?

I didn't think so...

[MountainLaurel]

9. Not who, what . . .

The oilfields. Remember that the first place the U.S. military went after the fall of Saddam was the Oil Ministry.