HR in the news: Iraq must protect civilians at risk of deadly violence

This article looks at the human rights abuses being suffered by civilians in Iraq. The article focuses on civilians who are especially at risk of attacks because of their political activities; their identity, gender or sexual orientation; or their situation as displaced people. Most of the killings are carried out by armed groups although some of the killings are the work of security forces, militia, foreign troops and even other civilians. The article also gives a few recommendations for reducing the amount of these human rights violations some of which include immediately disarming all militias and end the identification of religious affiliation on identity cards.

Throughout the article it is mentioned that the Iraqi government and authorities need to do more to provide security and help to the people subject to these abuses. Nowhere in the article does it mention the U.S. military providing either of these. Is the U.S. military not partially to blame for these abuses? Now I realize this was a problem in Iraq before the 2003 invasion, however, I wouldn’t find it surprising if the amount of human rights violations has increased since then. So, if this is indeed true, shouldn’t the U.S. military be held accountable as well?

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/iraq-must-protect-civilians-risk-deadly-violence-2010-04-27