Hospital struck as US military tightens siege of Baghdad's Sadr City

A US military statement claimed that intelligence reports had identified the targetted building as a command and control centre used by criminal elements. Military spokeswoman Megan Burmeister blamed criminal groups operating directly out of civilian neighbourhoods. Colonel Gerald OHara insisted that great care [was taken] to prevent any collateral damage. The missiles were precision guided.

These comments stand reality on its head. The US-led drive into Sadr City is aimed at destroying the Madhi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and suppressing all resistance in the area, which has been a hotbed of opposition to the American occupation. Criminal elements and criminal groups are the latest buzzwords employed by the US military and the puppet government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to justify transforming the densely-populated suburb into a battle zone.

There is no way of knowing who was in the building flattened by US missiles. Locals told the media that it was a small centre used by pilgrims. A sign on the gate outside read Imam Husseins Resthouse, according to the New York Times. Of course, none of the intelligence reports were released. In any case, the real criminals are not the Madhi Army militia, which has widespread support among the local population, but the US military which is seeking to consolidate its colonial-style occupation of Iraq.

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