In our American tradition of justice, it would be proper for our government to set up, as soon as possible, a U.S.-Iraq War Damage Compensation Court which would receive, review and adjudicate claims by Iraqi nationals and residents for collateral damages of the war. Humanitarian aid is good, but it does not absolve us from the death and destruction we have brought upon the Iraqi people. The government should ask the Congress to make provisions to cover the compensations granted by the court.

The creation of the court may not fully pre-empt the coming outcry of human rights organizations and future Iraqi power structures, but it will take the wind out of their sails. The creation of the court and its activities should be widely announced.

© Anoush Khoshkish 
April 2003