[Aliantha]

Some people only care about their nearest and dearest, others care more widely about those in their neighbourhood. Some others care about their state, and yet others care about their countrymen.

Others care about humanity as a whole.

Yes I'd save my children before saving anyone else if that were ever a situation I might find myself in, but I'd still have compassion for others regardless of where they were from...except maybe the one who was trying to kill me or mine. Then I'd probably feel a little bit less concerned for their outcome.

I think it comes down to how close you think your enemies are and exactly how and who you percieve those enemies to be. I suppose some people see the general population of Iraq to be the enemy while others see only the sunis as the enemy while others see the shiites as the enemy, and others still see the US and coalition forces as the enemy.

Everyone that is killed in this war deserves compassion. They are fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, sisters, mothers. They are children of someone. They have love in their lives and they give love to someone. These people are human beings, and no matter what side of the political fence they are on, they deserve compassion, as do their families.

War is terrible and everyone involved in it grieves about the outcome for themselves personally, or for their state, or their country, or for their humanity.