I was struck by the contrast between two passages I came across recently:
Misurata’s population is roughly 400,000. In nearly two months of war, only 257 people–including combatants–have died there. Of the 949 wounded, only 22–less than 3 percent–are women. If Gadhafi were indiscriminately targeting civilians, women would comprise about half the casualties.
–Alan J. Kuperman (Boston Globe, 4/14/11)
In a report to be published in tomorrow’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers have concluded that air strikes [in Iraq] by U.S.-led coalition forces have killed mostly women and children. Thirty-nine percent were children, while 46 percent were women.
–Jason Ditz (Antiwar.com, 4/15/09)
After nearly two months of NATO bombardment, the Libyan government’s warfare in Misurata may have become more indiscriminate–a reminder of the often inhumane consequences of “humanitarian intervention.” But it’s striking to see what degree of violence against civilians is treated by U.S. corporate media as a compelling reason to take military action against an official enemy–compared to the much greater level of civilian killing that passes without much notice when it is committed by the United States itself.
Oh well empires do seem to require some kind of blood lust. And we seem to become crueler and more sadistic by the minute–not only toward foreigners, but toward our own people. Witness the cutbacks being pushed for the most vulnerable among us. In New York City, 6,000 teachers fired; elsewhere–unions cut off from collective bargaining; in Washington–cut Medicaid (mostly throwing old people out of nursing homes; not sure where they’ll go–the street maybe). The list goes on. And on and on.
At least on US soil we kill people discriminately. We make sure the old, the poor, and the vulnerable are the first to go. I suppose even rich people are being killed in Iraq…. No wait, that’s just silly. The rich are protected everywhere.
I expected a FAIR article on the killing of Khadafi’s grandchildren and son.Nothing?????
Well, Carol, it won’t be until old pensioners are literally dying in the streets that some action will be taken. you’re right though–the USA is. getting meaner and stupider and uglier by the week. It’s a direct result of the way we’ve arranged our economic affairs. Well, not we, but you know what I mean.
Tim
I kind of feel like you just showed your face to the light.My claim has always been that the way libs and socialists see America is(to use your words)”meaner,stupider and uglier”.That is the direct opposite as to how say -the tea party views America.You need to go to a rally just once ,to see and feel the positivity.The belief in the intrinsic good ,and smarts of the average person to control their own lives without government overseers.You may have to leave hate and snarky belligerence at the door for a bit to get the benifit .But just to see people who believe in their fellow man.Its a good thing.We’ll leave a light on for ya.
michael e
its nice that you hang out and have a good time telling each other how nice and smart you all are [and what a bad attitude or how stupid the people who disagree with are] but what do you think of the usa killing so many innocent civilians in iraq and afghanistan? just collateral damage? would you feel the same way if your nice friends had their country invaded and their friends and family killed? how would you feel if you had to scrape bits of your kids’ bodies of the walls? i guess they dont talk about that at your tea parties