Patrick Leahy: “This article describes laudable efforts by the Department of Defense to reduce civilian casualties that have so often…”

“This article describes laudable efforts by the Department of Defense to reduce civilian casualties that have so often resulted from mistakes that could have been avoided with relatively simple precautions at checkpoints. For years, I and others urged the Pentagon to ensure that U.S. checkpoints were clearly marked and that soldiers at checkpoints in Iraq are trained to warn drivers in ways that avoid confusion, not simply with lights or by firing their guns into the air which a driver might not see or that could cause a driver to panic. For years, we were ignored, with horrific incident after horrific incident, whole families gunned down, or only young children left alive after their parents in the front seat were riddled with bullets. Iraq is an extraordinarily dangerous place and attacks against our troops often happen without a moment's notice. Split second decisions are sometimes necessary. No one suggests that our troops should not be able to defend themselves or that they should be penalized for unavoidable mistakes. But Pentagon officials stubbornly refused to heed the most reasonable, constructive suggestions, always insisting that they were acting according to procedures. Those procedures were woefully inadequate and they devalued innocent Iraqi lives. It is inexcusable, because it was so obvious and many casualties could have been avoided with the changes that field commanders have recently made. All it took was caring enough to do it.”