Every time Iraq has “liberated” a city from ISIS, it has been followed by brutal purges of civilians who were suspected of being in league with ISIS in some way. Though officials always promise the next time will be different, a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) shows that the trend has continued in the invasion of Mosul.
HRW documented the recovery of at least 26 different bodies found blindfolded, handcuffed, and executed in government-held parts of Mosul since their invasion of the city began, in 15 of the cases, local forces actually confirmed that Iraqi forces had summarily executed them for being “suspects.”
One journalist was even quoted as having been told by a government official that the Sunni militias which were participating in the offensive had killed 25 of the detainees they’d held and tried to dump the bodies in the river. Needless to say, Iraqi government investigations of such killings are all but non-existent.
The 26 bodies in government territory and 25 in the river are just the tip of the iceberg, as aid workers described finding a number of bodies left by the side of the road outside of Mosul, and being told by forces in the area that this was a place Iraqi soldiers routinely bring detainees for execution. The slain were all said to have been identified as among the 90,000 Iraqis “wanted for ISIS-affiliation.”
While it’s not unusual for militias to abuse their power, there are also growing signs that the government troops themselves are taking part in summary killings, and with US officials saying their intention is that “no one survives” the ISIS war, it’s starting to look like killing everyone is a deliberate strategy intended to avoid having to deal with post war detainees and evidence.
While such attrocities are no doubt real, and are part and parcel of any war — especially civil wars, I do not have ANY confidence in HRW. The Agency, like most others of this kind based in Western countries deal with evidence very selectively. Now that US government is trying to box Iraq in to insure upper hand in post ISIS settlement, this kind of human rights music we heard manyvtimes before. Perhaps if we did not destroy Iraqi state, none of this would be happening. HRW did attrocious things in Balkans — taking aim at victims and protecting their tormentors. They were always to be counted on to spin human rights angle. In 1995, when over 250,000 people were removed from their ancestral homes in Croatia, and in huge columns– cars, tractors, horse drawn carts, on foot, they were removed to Serbia. HRW was there and merely stated facts, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. In other politically correct cases — they have pointed out any and all violations, including speculations , taking information from biased sources, etc.
In case of Iraq, today — US is displeased with Iraqi and Syrian forces working together to liberate border towns, road leading to borders, and border checkpoints. In the case of one Syrian operation to liberate a border crossing — US bombed to prevent them. But Iraqi forces cannot be bombed without a huge political fallout — especially as Iraqi Army has taken the brunt of fighting ISIS throughout Iraq. Unlike in Syria, Kurds in Iraq could not be weaponized, with the exception of Turkish PKK in Iraq — the ones that “liberated” Sinjar, and have been holed in ever since. So, Kurds cannot be credited for “fighting ISIS”, as Iraqi government forces and their affiliated militias are closing in on ISIS pockets. So, Iraq is taking over Syria border — insuring that they do not remain in foreign hands — and the hands of foreign sponsored entities. Not being able to stop Iraq from advancing — US is resorting to instructing the great world power — Syrian Kurds — to warn Iraq not to take over border crossings!!! And what sovereign power do Kurds have to order Iraqis around? Especially as Damascus and Baghdad are in agreement about restoring their legal borders. As such warnings by Kurds were not headed, now is the time to start trashing Iraqi forces, accuseing them of attrocities. Now if Iraq was compliant — not a thing would be noticed.
No descriptive analysis of how the victims were killed, no speculation on their motives. But as long term strategy is needed to keep Iraq under control –and this HRW approach is a standard procedure. However, I do not see it working. The only way for human rights to be weaponized is by identifying a culprit — to personalize the guilt, “an evil” leadership, etc. This is a scenario being stuch to in Syria, as Assad is an obstacle to jettisoning the entire Syrian state institutions — and pick sucessor. But in Iraq — this was already done. The disobedient Maliki was ditched by Iraqi government once it became clear that ISIS was created to fracture Iraq and bombs were devastating Baghdad on daily basis. The new Iraqi government invited US to help. The help received in training, and arming was completely offset by disasterously poor military advice on strategy to fight ISIS and even more disasterous intelligence. Iraqi army walked into traps all the time — and its Army appeared utterly incompetent and cowardly. This changed. Two events marked the change. One is establishing a regional intelligence center in Baghdad with participation of Iran and Russia. Second, in defiance of US generals advice, Iraq decided to not go on Mosul, before securing Falujah. It was a olace from where most of the wttacks on Baghdad came — and this was a way to secure Baghdad before going to Mosul. From thet point on, Iraqi Army did well. Slowly but surely, ISIS is being reduced to pockets. But instead of getting bogged down with pockets of resistance, Iraqi Army is moving to secure its borders. And this is a HUGE no-no. The old and decrepid continent is still sending its contingent to muddle issues and prevent countries themselves to control their borders and guarantee teritorial integrity. So, Norvegians are in Jordan, and straddling Syria-Jordan border. British are everywhere waiting to get inserted into eventual “peacekeeping” pockets. And Macron cannot wait to get invited to define the future of its former colony, Syria. And in spite of OBVIOUS reinforcements that “somebody” is providing to ISIS in moving its resources to Deir Azzor — and attack this government held town, we still have heroic Kurds advancing against ISIS. Translate, ISIS fighters are turning over village by village the territory to Kurds. But not before executing all prominent people there, giving Kurds helpless population without leadership — problem solved, Kurds victorious, on with next ethnic cleansing, and territorial expansion. And where do ISIS fighters go? Into desert area where Damascus is controlling — Palmyra and Deir Azzor. But if Iraq takes over key roads/border checkpoints — that would choke off ISIS supplies! Bad Iraq!
So in spite of HRW shot at Iraq, not much can be done. One has to notice the little anomaly — these are Sunni militias doing the killing of suspected ISIS — not the bad Shia. The reason? Sunni tribal leaders have their coordinating body in Baghdad, so we are witnessing fhe strong reversal of much adored Sunni-Shia sectarian divide. This is why HRW story is questionable — Sunni militias are really tribal forces working with Baghdad — and less likely to raise the animosity of their own clansmen, as the peace will come and they will have to bury the differences. So, with no ability to demonize Baghdad — US will try some other method to stick it to them. But a day will come even in Washington when somebody will ask a question — why? What do we want in Iraq? From Iraq? Then, finally, the response to the growing Wahhabi cult, ISIS will not be another contract to a crony to control internet — but will result in dealing with the outdated ambitions of Western powers, and uts accomplice, Saudi Arabia.