Iraq civilian death tabulations are complicated by the nature of the enemy.

The hell of war is graphically reflected in the evidence that some 3,300 civilians have died as a result of the American takeover in Iraq. That figure could rise, too, as additional reports come in and findings are made through unofficial sites where deaths occurred. Rural areas still are to be accounted for.

Much of the current number is a result of “formal” compilations from hospitals, medical personnel and such. It covers the period between March 20 when the war began and April 20 when the fighting seemed to be dying down. There are certain to be additional totals.

But before people rush to judgment about the “barbarism” of American forces, attention needs to be paid to the sources and the tactics of the Iraqis.

Most of the civilian deaths appear to be the result of U.S. and British attacks. But others were caused by the Iraqis themselves; by exploding Iraqi ammunition stored in residential neighborhoods, by falling Iraqi anti-aircraft rounds aimed at coalition warplanes and by Iraqi fire directed at coalition troops.

Further, when we see those television clips of various Iraqi people firing their weapons into the air, sometimes in celebration, how many times have stray bullets killed or injured?

The Saddam Hussein regime used such tactics as parking its troops and weapons in residential neighborhoods, creating targets for U.S. bombs.

“Did the Americans bomb civilians? Yes. But one should be realistic,” said Dr. Hameed Hussein al-Aaraji, new director of Baghdad’s al-Kindi Hospital. “Saddam ran a dirty war. He put weapons inside schools, inside mosques. What could they do?”

No war is clean, of course, but the Hussein tactics can clearly be labeled “dirty,” a far cry from what American and British forces engaged in. Our forces were ordered to prevent loss of civilian casualties if at all possible. But then there are the homicide bombers and the snipers to contend with.

It also is interesting to note that in the time the war began and the time our troops were ordered to cease hostilities, about 160 Americans were killed. This toll is sure to rise. Since Baghdad fell two months ago, nearly 50 more U.S. troops have died, at least 12 from hostile fire. Guerrilla and terrorist activities are sure to continue for some time.

A grim prospect is that as American forces remain in onetime battle zones and try to work on behalf of peace and order, more could die. By the time the United States is able to disengage from Iraq and get its people home, it will not be surprising to see the post-war death toll surpass the 160 of the war proper.

We will be forced to contend with potential enemies which “melted away into crowded cities, changed into plain clothes or wore no uniform to begin with.” Where are they and how much longer will they be a threat? We hear that Saddam Hussein’s people now are providing bonuses to “American-killers.”

In such a venue, it is difficult if not impossible to separate civilian from military casualties.

A “civilian” death toll of 3,300 is a terrible statistic, but so is the 160 American figure for the war proper. That total is almost certain to keep rising until the nation can gain some semblance of stability whenever that might be.