Lives Lost in Iraq Spark Search for Answers

According to the Nov. 17 article, Margaret Hassan, the director of CARE International in Iraq, was apparently killed by her captors, shot in cold blood. From what I have read and heard, Hassan was not only against our invasion of Iraq, she was a longtime resident and citizen of Iraq, married to an Iraqi and was a Muslim convert. She worked for the CARE humanitarian organization that helped more than 17 million Iraqis. She gave her life for Iraq.

For those who still want to call the animals who murdered her “insurgents,” call them what they really are. Evil.

Maureen Dickson

Whittier

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The Nov. 17 front page blares: “Shooting Spurs Iraqi Uproar, U.S. Inquiry. Marine may be charged in the Fallouja killing of an unarmed fighter. The footage airs on Arab TV, further tarnishing America’s image.” The Arab mind is a wonderful thing. It can forget thousands of atrocities and blatant murders it has committed and focus on one indiscretion by America. The same is true of the U.N. when it comes to Israel. How can The Times fall for such balderdash?

Donald Rapp

South Pasadena

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Why is it when one of our Marines shoots an unarmed insurgent in Iraq, it is being called a war crime? Does anyone in the military or our government care that we could have lost one or more of our soldiers if the Iraqi had been booby-trapped or had a weapon of his own? I am sure the Marine was only looking out for his own and his unit’s safety.

We all know that any of the insurgents would have killed our troops at the slightest chance, whether they were unarmed or not. I really get sick to my stomach when I hear of another American soldier being killed in this war that I and so many other Americans did not support. That is not to say that I do not support our troops, because I do, 100%. I hope that if this young man has a court-martial, we all protest and say, “Enough, bring them all home before any more losses.”

Davina Garcia

Culver City

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If the object of going into Iraq was to overthrow Saddam Hussein, then why, 11 months after his capture, are we still destroying the cities, killing and waging a war on its people? And, please, don’t tell me it’s because of 9/11.

Doug Hayes

Sierra Madre

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The overwhelming power of the U.S. military was once more demonstrated, with massive bombings and dogged street fighting in the “David versus Goliath” battle for Fallouja. How can we possibly think that Iraqis are going to like us, and support our systematic destruction of their country, while our corporations are lining up to cash in on the reconstruction effort? Is this a show of what our democracy is capable of achieving? Or have we put all that “love for freedom” talk behind us now that the elections are over? And, by the way, how many “free” Iraqis have we killed in Fallouja? Your readers deserve to know what kind of horrors their taxes are paying for. You’ve covered the military operations, our deaths and casualties, the human stories, but what about reporting on the scope of civilian casualties?

Chris Worland

Burbank