Iraqi orders are to kill, not capture, terrorists
The order to kill captured gunmen instead of arresting them stirs a political and moral debate in Iraq.
BAGHDAD — A controversy is brewing over the actions of Iraqi armed forces during “anti-terrorism” operations, as senior army officers have issued clear orders to kill rather than arrest those being pursued.
There are of course opposing positions on this shift in Iraq's war against terrorism. Some view it as some form of “martial law” that violates human rights, but others think it an appropriate solution for stopping the so-called death machine of suicide bombers and criminals across the country. In Baquba on Jan. 24, Diyala police killed six men whom they claimed were suicide bombers planning to storm the local government building. After they were captured, the men were tied to street lamp poles and shot.
