Azzaman, September 28, 2010

The U.S. army attack on three houses in Falluja in the early morning of September 15 requires an explanation from various parties.

The U.S. is required to explain the reason it deployed helicopter gunships in attacking a civilian target inside an Iraqi city after the withdrawal of its combat troops. The troops staying behind were supposed to be only engaged in training and offering of advice.

Any party representing the Iraqi government also needs to explain a number of issues, namely the reason why the members of the attacking force were clad in black, which is not the color of the Iraqi military uniform.

True, the Iraqi force is something like a 'death squad' but still the government needs to say why its members were wearing black uniforms on this particular mission.

The government should clarify whether it had prior information of the attack or not. If it did, it is under obligation to explain why children women and civilians were killed in an operation whose declared target was the capture of a former army officer.

The government is under obligation to tell the Iraqi people the kind of preparations it has in place in the aftermath of the U.S. combat troops withdrawal.

Who would believe that the attempt to capture one person requires airborne troops and helicopter gunships - all deployed against residential houses where women and children live.

The Sahwa (Sunni militiamen) and police in Falluja also should be asked to provide their version of the story. There should be some legal measure for brining people, like the former army officer, for questioning on the basis of which an accusation could have been issued.

This particular person, once found guilty, could have been tried. There was no need to execute families among them children under the pretext of targeting the same person.