In response to one of the deadliest U.S.-led bombings of civilians in 25 years, the Friends Committee on National Legislation mourns the loss of life and expresses grave concern about U.S. complicity in the March 17 airstrike that killed scores of civilians in a neighborhood in Mosul, Iraq.
We have witnessed a disturbing trend over the course of a week where three U.S.-led airstrikes have resulted in a remarkably high death toll estimated at 280 civilians, including the March 16 and March 21 strikes in Syria that are reported to have hit a mosque and school, respectively.
We are further concerned that the civilian casualties resulting from the three airstrikes indicate what may be a rollback of standards related to the Pentagon’s rules of engagement and the delegation of decision making to lower levels of command as part of the Pentagon’s new classified plan to “defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.”
We urge the Pentagon to conduct an immediate investigation into all three incidents, and the public release of the findings. The Pentagon should disclose any changes that have been implemented or are being considered specific to the rules of engagement and decision making standards as well as the development of a plan of action to better minimize civilian casualties that takes into account the recent failures. Congress must also fully exercise its leadership and oversight role by pushing for greater accountability and by ensuring a review of Pentagon tactics and procedures to reduce civilian harm.
An approach that relies on military force – and one that appears to be increasingly reckless– only begets more violence in Iraq and Syria, and works directly against the stated objective of diminishing attacks that put civilian lives in jeopardy. Further, the dangers of prioritizing military options will become ever more pronounced as the Trump administration guts effective diplomatic and development tools.
The recent devastating death toll in Mosul adds to more than a generation of destruction wrought by U.S. militarism that has ravaged Iraq. Through a draconian sanctions regime, 25 years of bombing, and more than a decade of military occupation, the U.S. has contributed to the deaths of more than a million Iraqis.
FCNL believes strongly that decades of endless and costly wars are not working. Direct and indirect U.S. military intervention continues to fuel conflict and violence in Iraq, Syria, throughout the Middle East, and beyond. For the sake of the families trapped in conflict zones as well as U.S. and global security, we cannot afford to continue to make the same deadly mistakes.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the victims, and to the broader Iraqi and Syrian communities that have witnessed so much destruction over the years. The only path toward security for all the peoples of the Middle East, the United States and the world requires strong, robust diplomatic efforts, generous humanitarian and development assistance, and a comprehensive strategy focused on cooperative engagement.