Israel on a war crimes rampange against the Lebanese

Israeli forces have systematically failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians in their military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said in report released today. The pattern of attacks in more than 20 cases investigated by Human Rights Watch researchers in Lebanon indicates that the failures cannot be dismissed as mere accidents and cannot be blamed on wrongful Hezbollah practices. In some cases, these attacks constitute war crimes. The 50-page report, "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon," analyzes almost two dozen cases of Israeli air and artillery attacks on civilian homes and vehicles. Of the 153 dead civilians named in the report, 63 are children. More than 500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire since fighting began on July 12, most of them civilians.

"The pattern of attacks shows the Israeli military's disturbing disregard for the lives of Lebanese civilians," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "Our research shows that Israel's claim that Hezbollah fighters are hiding among civilians does not explain, let alone justify, Israel's indiscriminate warfare."
End Indiscriminate Strikes on Civilians

American & Pakistan's "Dictators"

>Bush in Pakistan

He skirted a question about sluggish democratic reform in Pakistan, where Musharraf has failed to hold promised elections. 'I believe democracy is Pakistan's future. We share a strong commitment to democracy,' he said. Musharraf said he had introduced 'the essence of democracy' through local elections, empowerment of women and minorities and a free press, but would only consider resigning as head of the army after elections due in 2007.

The dark side of Pakistani democracy was evident outside the palace gates, where anti-US rallies had been banned and hundreds arrested, including cricket legend Imran Khan. The opposition politician, who intended to lead a rally yesterday, was placed under house arrest as he left a dinner party late Friday night.

'I wanted to protest against the double standards of Bush,' Khan said by mobile phone from behind a line of police at his front gate. 'This is a military dictatorship with a democratic facade.'

LATimes Editorial

On Hamas, patience
If Hamas is given a chance to govern without interference, it will have to provide Palestinians with the clean, efficient government they thought they were voting for. In contrast, if Israel or the international community acts in a hostile manner, Hamas can blame them when things go badly.

Bosnia Revisited..

Children born of rape come of age in Bosnia
Without clear identities, the orphans pose problems in country governed by ethnicity