Pen-Elayne on the Web

Civilians by Technicality

Good post by Jeanne d'Arc on the horrific mutilation-killing of four American mercenaries in Iraq. And amazingly thorough posts by Kathryn Cramer here and here detailing why these people are only technically "civilians." As Jeanne said, "Obviously, none of that makes the deaths of those four men one bit less horrible. No one should die like that. No one. Their families are in my prayers, and I hope they're in the hearts of anyone who doesn't pray." Amen. Nonetheless, the term "civilians" usually connotes some sort of innocent bystander status, which is questionable in this case. Update: More from Kathryn, defining the term "mercenary." Also, Iraqi blogger Raed weighs in.