Collateral Damage or Premeditated Murder?

In 2004, the US military paid families of Iraqi civilians $5 million in compensation for civilian deaths and injuries. Last year that number quadrupled to $20 million. When that increase was reported by the Boston Globe, Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy said it served "as a warning sign." It's also raised questions about the extent of civilian casualties at a time when ground troops are being charged with murder. But what about the so-called "collateral damage" when civilians are killed by bombs dropped from high-altitude aircraft? Is there a double standard? Which civilian deaths are acceptable under the rules of war; when is prosecution required? We hear from journalists, legal experts and human-rights advocates.Making News: Homegrown Terrorist Ring Busted in MiamiUS Attorney General Alberto Gonzales today announced the arrest of seven men in Miami, accused of wanting to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and FBI offices in Florida. The Deputy Director of the FBI said the plot was more "aspirational than operational." The US Attorney in Miami said the defendants were stopped before they had the capacity to carry out their threats. Bobby Block reports on terrorism and security for the Wall Street Journal. Reporter's Notebook: Will the Voting Rights Act Be Reauthorized?The Voting Rights Act, signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1965, is widely credited with making blacks in southern states part of the political process. Some provisions will expire next year, and last month, House and Senate leaders of both parties appeared on the Capitol steps to endorse their extension for 25 years. But on Wednesday, House Republicans pulled back because some members claim the act is unfair. Tom Baxter is Chief Political Correspondent for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.