Reading The Pictures: American Bombing Of Sadr City: Like Qana, But Without The Attention?

Now that the U.S. -- desperate to protect the Green Zone, and avoid a Saigon-style evacuation -- is actively bombing Sadr City, what is the difference between what the Americans are doing , and what the Israelis did in Qana during the '06 Lebanon war?

Above is Monday's photo of two-year-old Ali Hussein, pulled from the bombed rubble of his home, who died shortly after in the hospital. It's the shot which could have, would have and otherwise should have woken up all the sheep and cast a fiery and pin-pointed attention on the urban carnage inflicted on an overcrowded, poverty-stricken, urban Baghdad slum by U.S. fighter bombers.

So I ask, what is the difference -- in morality, shock effect and potential political fallout -- between the shot from Sadr City above, and the near-identical scene below that rocked the world, shamed the Israelis, and burned Qana into the world's consciousness ... besides the lack of media access and attention?

About a photo, about Iraq (Kansas City Star)
Several believed dead in US air raids in Baghdad (AFP)

For more of the visual, visit BAGnewsNotes.com.

(image 1: Karim Kadim/AP. April 29, 2008. Sadr City, Baghdad. via Kansas City Star. image 2: ©Tim Fadek. July 30, 2006. Qana, Lebanon. Used by permission. Please seek permission before re-use.)

Comments

[surfcitysteven]

After Sept 11 there are two days on which I have been angrier than today. One was the start of this war and the other was the day that Hillary Clinton and John McCain shredded the constitution and voted away congressional authority to declare war.

[LadyXoc]

A horrible picture - but the same picture could have been taken at Hiroshima, at Dresden, in the Philippines, Guernica, the Bombay riots of 1993, etc, etc., etc.
Innocents are forever victims. This war is wrong - but to select Israel and the US as villains is using the deaths of innocents to make political points. The war is wrong not because innocents are killed (they're killed in all wars) but because we invaded a sovereign nation on a lie, just because we wanted to - and now we've lost the way out.

[Durango]

Stop and think about what you just wrote. Then imagine that the baby in the picture was yours.

Would you feel "war is not wrong because innocents are killed (they're killed in all wars.")

Hell no. You would blame who ever launched the missile. And you would probably be be looking to avenge the killing of your child.

You are right to ascribe the killing to criminal policy decisions by the USA. But you are wrong to try and make the argument anything but personal.

The vast majority of the people fighting our troops in Iraq are doing it for very personal reasons.

[Berettasskeeter]

I applaud our forces for their restraint, and I applaud the Israelis for theirs as well. The attacks, in both instances, could more rightly have been answered with overwhelming force. And, I for one wish it had been.
Semper fi

[ABuckofACanuck]

Some day I wonder if some restrained, applause- worthy military force will rip apart your kids, nieces, nephews, grandmas, grandpas, parents or any of the above.

Rightly answered with more overwhelming force? Well, good on ya' Semper Fi, we all know there's a right and wrong in every action but since the 'ole war is here anywhoo, why not make the best of it but show restraint where ya can, eh?

As a fellow human I feel for you, you need some love in your life. Even if you're point is well taken for any acedemic at any war-college, as a reaction to this photo piece, you're utterly lost

BTW

Any marines I served with knew the difference between baby killing and combat; soldiers prepare and train for combat; pogues and politico's do the baby killing because they don't have to take their fingers off the safety and do business.

Get some help, drop your guns and pick up a puppy.

[bronceye]

Jesus weeps.

[bakunin]

I am typing this with tears in my eyes. I am a 68 year old regular army vet and









































I am typing this with tears in my eyes. I am a 68 year old regular army vet and I say damn them all. Damn every last one of the neo-con swine.

[nefertiti]

bumblebee
It is Americans like you that remind us that we should not generalise and judge ALL Americans by the work of a few . I Know half of the Americans did not vote for Bush that s a lot of Americans . we Love Americans like You . Bless you .

[Axolotl]

Relatedly, the administration still refuses to tag Muktada Al Sadr as "enemy." That is because, like others we have shot at or who have killed our fine troops, Sadr is on our payroll.

Another triumph for Bush. We are paying just about all factions, and find it difficult to "win."

[sloLes]

Isn't this state sponsored terrorism? Shouldn't Bush, Cheney, Rice, et al spend the rest of their lives defending themselves as charged war criminals? And shouldn't they be sent to The Hague to face the World Court, just as Milosivic did?

If things are ever to be set right for America with the rest of the world in our lifetimes, there needs to be accountability. Don't expect the mainstream media to promote war crimes trials for American leaders. They're too busy vilifying Wright, Rep. Ron Paul, and others for saying that we brought world hatred upon ourselves with our foreign policy and American corporate colonialism around the world. And every mainstream politician has fell into line with this misinformation campaign.

So, it's something that Americans need to do for themselves, by talking to each other. And not with histrionics! And not with any pre-conceptions of who agrees by the traditional designations of right & left. People like Baker, Hamilton, and former national security advisor Scodroft (spelling?) are potential allies who are willing to talk to anyone, even our enemies. It isn't really such a big step from talking to people rationally to engaging them in meaningful negotiations, and then ultimately cutting a deal.

So, let's try to be inclusive in our comments! Let's broaden the dissatisfaction to include people who are upset for pragmatic reasons like competence and long-term hatred for America. And let's lay the groundwork to bring American war criminals to trial in our lifetimes.

[elbzee]

Michael, I'm afraid there's just not enough "bling" there to get our attention. Now, if it was a hot lil blonde who might have been sexually abused, THERE'D be the shot! Can't we suggest poor little Ali have been sexually abused just before we bombed his shack? Then we could talk about it on all the news shows! Just takes a lil creativity when it comes to getting the press's attention (ahem)

[Nezua]

Duh! Because Der Surge Is Working.

I know. It's appalling. It's worse than that. But if I go into how I honestly feel, then Huffington Post will not let my comment through. Because I've no civil words left for our vicious occupation and widespread apathy.

[anfractuous]

That's why we're heading towards an Air Force composed of just unmanned arial vehicles; less chance for a vagrant spark of morality to compromise a mission - just some zhlub in Arizona bombing people with one hand and jerking off with the other.

[desmirl]

With a momentary Loss Of Control (LOC) when he switches hands.

[appleknocker]

No difference. Americans and Israelis are, by definition, Good; therefore, whatever slaughter they perpetrate is also Good.

[JimReed]

"what is the difference between what the Americans are doing now, and what the Israelis did in Qana during the '06 Lebanon war?"

Everyone including the US wanted the Lebanon war to end, not immediately but in a short time after the bombing could accomplish enough destruction. The bombing had to be done in a compressed timetable. Iraq has no such schedule, so we can take our time and bomb for 100 years if that is what it takes for the mission to be accomplished.

[willie3070]

Please please, American patriots please stand up speak up for what is done in our name is done by us ALL

[JimReed]

So what? If we cared, we would be hearing about it on Sunday when we attend church. With the possible exception of a few black churches, this is an issue that we understand is best avoided. The bible tells us there will be wars and be not troubled, so we don't care. We put Bush in power, but we can't be held responsible for what he does.

[desmirl]

We don't hear about this in churches because most preachers (the ones who aren't child molestors) are cowards and afraid to offend their congregations because that might mean a lighter collection plate on Sunday morning.

[hopeless277]

Terrorism in the name of freedom trumps terrorism in the name of resistance. Besides, haven't you heard? We're the 'good guys'.

[hawkeye58]

This is just one more recruiting poster for Bin Laden. The more we kill the more they hate us. Unfortunately, George Bush can't seem to make the connection.