"The devastating consequences of using cluster bombs in civilian areas are utterly predictable. If, as accounts suggest, U.S. forces dropped cluster bombs in residential areas of al-Hilla, even if they were directed at military targets, this would be a grave breach of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International stated at the early stages of the war, when a United States cluster munition attack on the Iraqi town of Hilla in March 2003 killed at least thirty-three civilians and injured 109.

"The attack at al-Hilla's hospital on 1 April was an example of indiscriminate killing of civilians and a grave violation of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International emphasized.

We had a great day," said Sgt Eric Schrumpf of the U.S. Marines on April 6, 2003. "We killed a lot of people." "We dropped a few civilians, but what do you do?" He said there were women standing near an Iraqi soldier, and one of them fell when he and other Marines opened fire. "I'm sorry," said Sgt Schrumpf, "but the chick was in the way," said an article that was published on the British daily The Mirror.

"Those found responsible for any violations of the laws of war should be brought to justice," Amnesty said.

Despite repetitive claims by U.S. and UK authorities that they do all they can to protect civilians, hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, including men and women lost their lives since the war was launched in March 20 2003.

As fighting continues in the war-raged country, attacks in the vicinity of civilian targets continue and are expected to escalate.

"We urge all the warring parties to make the safety of the Iraqi civilians a top priority," Amnesty previously said.

Till when should ordinary Iraqis pay the price for the surge in violence whether it be by the U.S. non-stop military operations or attacks by armed groups opposing the government and the presence of the invading troops.

Also during the recent U.S. border offensive [Operation Steel Curtain], scores of Iraqi civilians lost their lives and dozens were injured, witnesses and correspondents asserted.

If the U.S. with the mightiest military machine ever in world history failed in preventing fighters’ infiltration into Iraq, if this is really happening, then it’s absolutely impossible for Iraqis living in border villages. If the U.S.’s massive and disproportionate firepower can’t crush those fighters, how are ordinary Iraqis, women and children are expected to take up arms and stop them?

With the absence of honest media coverage, it’s become increasingly difficult and almost impossible to assess the damage and casualties in regions hit by the U.S. offensives.

However, several U.S. military officials revealed that civilians on many occasions bear the brunt, something worldwide media and the puppet Iraqi government repetitively sought to hide.

Iraqi medics and Red Crescent officials challenge the U.S. continuous claims about the number of civilians killed- They also spoke about thousands of families who deserted their homes as a result of the repetitive U.S. offensives.

The U.S. is punishing the Iraqi civilians for its failure to stop fighters’ infiltration and beat the resistance- Hundreds and thousands of innocent Iraqis have been either killed or displaced for the purposes of exposing rebels who are able to resist the U.S. Army- shouldn’t this be considered a crime against humanity.

Similar tactics were used in Vietnam, where about two million people lost their lives and many more were maimed. Like President Bush, President Reagan said that American soldiers were fighting for a "noble cause".