So many (1000s) have died in Iraq in separatist bombings and shootings of civilians as well as police and soldiers in the past 2 years -- what real difference does this, couple of hundred massacred make? Dead is dead.

Iraq wasn't a country it was a region dominated by the strongman that kept law and order (see: Iraq: Historical Setting
Library of Congress Country Study
The Ottoman Period, 1534-1918
http://historymedren.about.com/libra...bltxtiraq8.htm

In a historical perspective -- this has been going on in Iraq for hundreds of years -- best not to get sucked into their conflicts ... These people have a history of inter-sect Sunni-Shiite conflicts and civil wars.