Presentation made to a panel discussion on "Civilian Deaths in Iraq: Quantitative Estimates and Policy Implications," held at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), Washington DC, 10 Jan 2007.
Project founded in 2003 because we believed:
- US-UK military action against Iraq was almost certain
- This would involve civilian casualties
- There would be no official interest in recording them
- As citizens of the US and UK we bear watchdog responsibility
The IBC project was founded in January 2003 by a group of concerned US and UK citizens.. It was founded on 4 shared beliefs:
- First, US-UK military action against Iraq was almost certain
- Second, this would involve civilian casualties
- Third, there would be no official interest in recording them
- Fourth, As citizens of the US and UK we bear watchdog responsibility
These beliefs led to general identification of us as an “anti-war” group. Well, we were - and remain - passionately opposed to THIS war. In this respect we stand with majority world public opinion.. But where individual IBC members stand on other wars is a matter for them and them alone. We are an unincorporated, free and voluntary association of citizens, working independently from any political organisation or interest group.