Moral Degrees of Death

Yes, apparently there are some, according to US Ambassador John Bolton, who announced that Lebanon civilian deaths are morally not the same as the deaths of terror victims.

I'm glad to know that there are moral degrees of killing, however, I need the Bush administration to clarify some of the details for me. Are civilian deaths by "terrorism" better or worse than civilian deaths caused by other acts of aggression like the dropping of an atomic bomb on a civilian target? Also, what about deaths caused by environmental pollution, like, for example, when US companies with factories in other countries just dump their toxic waste into the drinking water? Are those sad, unintended consequences of global monopoly capital, or are they just as bad as some other form of killing?

Oh, and since we're discussing hierarchies, would someone please explain to me the most efficient way to decide who gets evacuated from a disaster zone? Apparently, American and European lives are worth rescuing, but the Lebanese are not. How "American" do you have to be to get rescued? Is it enough to work for the US government? Can you be rescued if you're married to a US citizen? What if your kids are citizens, but you are not? Do you deserve to be rescued then?

h/t to Betmo over at life's journey.