A Shameful Silence: Where is the Outrage Over the Slaughter of Civilians in Mosul?

http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/07/24/a-shameful-silence-where-is-the-outrage-over-the-slaughter-of-civilians-in-mosul/
Date Written:  2017-07-24
Publisher:  Counterpunch
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX21110

The catastrophic number of civilian casualties in Mosul is receiving little attention internationally from politicians and journalists. This is in sharp contrast to the outrage expressed worldwide over the bombardment of east Aleppo by Syrian government and Russian forces at the end of 2016.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

These tactics of the pro-government forces did not work. True, they eventually captured east Mosul after three months of heavy fighting and at the cost of casualties to the CTS reported as being between 40 and 50 per cent. But they could not afford this scale of losses repeated in west Mosul, where Isis was even more deeply entrenched.

When the assault on west Mosul began on 19 February, the pro-government forces were therefore using artillery, rockets and airpower much more freely. And in addition to the CTS, they fielded the Federal Police and Emergency Response Division, both of which were far less well-trained and deemed more sectarian than the CTS. As they in turn suffered heavy casualties, they lost all restraint in use of their firepower.

Why has there not been more outcry over the destruction of west Mosul? There should be no question about the massive civilian loss of life, even if there are differences over the exact numbers of the dead.

Subject Headings

• Iraq