QUESTION: Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into allegations that the U.S. forces have used excessive force, using -- causing undue -- and undue collective punishment on the population. Will the U.S. comply? And what is the status of Fallujah? I mean, how does -- technically, what is its status? It’s occupied? It’s hostile? It’s what?
MR. BOUCHER: The second question I, frankly, don’t understand. Fallujah is a city in Iraq. It needs to be administered by the government of Iraq. It needs to be peaceful for the sake of its local population, and we and others are making efforts to bring security to the people of Fallujah; we’re making efforts to exercise -- help the government, the Iraqis exercise good government in Fallujah. And I think we’ve pointed out that much of the trouble in Fallujah, including recently, has been the result of foreign fighters and Iraqis who might be working with them and supporting them, not necessarily the general population of the area. So Fallujah is an Iraqi city which, like other cities, needs to have peace and security for the sake of the people who live there, and needs to let the people who live there run their own affairs without interference from other foreigners and without violence caused by other elements coming in.
QUESTION: About on the allegations?
MR. BOUCHER: On the allegations, I think I’d have to leave that to the Pentagon; that when there are allegations involving U.S. forces, obviously, we’re aware of those. Whether the specific thing with Human Rights Watch is something that needs to be looked into or not I’d leave to them. I would point out though that U.S. forces always follow very high standards of professional conduct, and when there are difficulties that arise, it’s often our own internal -- their own internal vigilance that discovers them, investigates them and rectifies them. |