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Title: One of History's Greatest Crimes
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Published: Sep 26, 2010
Author: Stephen Lendman
Post Date: 2010-09-26 05:52:34 by Stephen Lendman
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Views: 437
Comments: 28
One of History's Greatest Crimes - by Stephen Lendman America's hidden history is ugly and disturbing. No nation ever matched it. To Iraq alone, over the past two decades, it includes ongoing genocide, destruction, terror, occupation, and contamination - a horrendous combination of crimes, unmentioned in Western discourse. Environmental Engineering Professor Souad N. Al-Azzawi documents them, including in his report titled, "Crime of the Century: Iraq's Occupation and DU Contamination," a detailed account of US culpability. America's strategic aims, he explains, include: -- controlling most of the world's oil and other natural resources; -- remaining permanently in the Middle East, "the intersection zone of the three continents where 80% of the world('s) population" lives; and -- if the above two objectives are achieved, America will control the world's economy, or enough of it to matter. Spread over a large enough area, depleted uranium (DU) is a weapon of mass destruction, because it's radioactive and chemically toxic. If ingested or inhaled through food, air, water or other means, it enters the human body, remaining for decades. An earlier article reported the dangers, accessed through the following link: http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2006/01/depleted-uranium-hidden-looming_16.html It explained that continued DU use has the potential to end planetary life, yet few understand the risk, or that weaponized DU is used regularly in missiles, bombs, shells and bullets wherever America wages war - first during the 1991 Gulf War. Its danger comes from radiation residue after use. On impact, DU munitions penetrate deeply and aerosolize into a fine spray, polluting surrounding air, water and soil. It's microscopic, sub- miscroscopic, and permanent. Spread over vast areas as radioactive atmospheric dust, its contamination causes virtually all known illnesses and diseases from severe headaches, muscle pain and general fatigue, to major birth defects, infections, depression, cardiovascular disease, and many types of cancers. It also causes permanent disability and death. Over the past two decades in Iraq alone, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of tons have been used, irradiating the entire country, some areas more than others. In his October 2009 presentation to the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia International Conference to Criminalize War, Azzawi accused America and Britain of: "subject(ing) the whole nation of Iraq for two decades to torture and slow death through the intentional use of radioactive weapons and the sanctions. The continuous and intentional use of (these) weapons is a crime against humanity due to its undifferentiating harmful health effects on civilians in contaminated areas tens of years to come after the military engagements." Radiation, in fact, is permanent, affecting unborn generations like living ones. During the Gulf War, about 320 tons were used in southern Iraq, affecting the Basrah region. Post- conflict, "comprehensive" examination detected it, especially "in and around Al-Basrah City," showing: -- "high gamma radiation" levels; -- "soil samples from 39 locations (with) higher activities than natural background levels;" and -- "Surface water channel sediments (with 2 - 3) times higher radioactivity than the natural background" level. Contamination was widespread, affecting at least "45% of people in the area, the Iraqi troops, and" coalition ones. As a result, soldiers (and civilians) exposed "to DU oxides (can expect) 70 cancer cases per 1,000" persons. Perhaps a higher incidence over time, and along with other illnesses and diseases, an epidemic of human affliction. Subsequent epidemiological studies in Basrah showed a "five times rise in the incidence rate of malignancies amongst children to be far more noticeable from 1995 onwards." In addition, exposure to ionized radiation caused: -- higher child leukemia rates; -- a "six fold increase in congenital malformations among births in Basrah City since 1995 onward," some too disturbing to view; and -- higher rates of congenital heart diseases and chromosomal aberrations. Even more destructive weapons were used in the 2003 war, including banned ones like napalm, white phosphorous, cluster bombs, and greater amounts of DU - "against people, infrastructure facilities, and environment." Further, "the looting and burning of factories, industrial complexes, laboratories, and ministries (including the looting of the Tuwaitha Atomic Energy Agency, and 300 other highly contaminated sites....)" caused contamination. Much more as well across the country in Baghdad and suburbs, Basrah, Mosul, Fallujah, Balad, Anbar, Haditha, Qa'im, Rawa, Karbala, Najar, Aubaidi, Diala, Samara, Tikrit, Baiji, Ahsaiba, Mada'in, Kubaissa, and other locations. In March 2009, Gideon Polya used the Just Foreign Policy estimate of 1.32 million Iraqi deaths post- March 2003 alone, a number considerably higher today. It's also well below his post-9/11 eight million "war on terror" total, mostly affecting women and children, aged five and younger, killed by war, diseases, and/or depravation, America's horrific ongoing genocidal legacy - air-brushed from history. Azzawi adds more: -- at least 4.5 internal or external refugees, many victimized by "militias and police raids and terrorist groups;" -- death squads targeting "certain ethnic and sectarian groups" daily; and -- in cities throughout Iraq, sieges cutting off "all life support aids on people, (affecting) Thousands of children, women and elderly who could not leave their houses and were subjected to collective punishment...." For weeks, these areas were deprived of food, water, healthcare, and electricity. As a result, contaminated water was used "from ditches and nearby rivers," causing cholera and other waterborne diseases. The continuous use of DU weapons in heavily populated areas exposes millions to its destructive effects. Further, "Continuous negligence of medical care systems, hospitals, and the killing of prominent medical and healthcare specialists....after 2003" exacerbated a widespread health crisis. Yet occupation forces provide no data on civilians killed, wounded, kidnapped or otherwise harmed. Nor do they allow "exploration programs to detect (DU) related contaminated areas." Yet they're vitally needed to "help Iraqi people....cope with the damages." Known evidence shows "Continuous deterioration of environmental quality....in Baghdad City due to explosions, and heavy traffic of tanks and vehicles...." Concentrations of numerous toxins way exceed safe levels. "Water quality deterioration caused an increase in "pathogenic water born diseases like Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis, (and) others." Air pollution results from continuous bombing and explosions. The "Multiple impact of all of the above pollution sources on the human body can be critical, especially for children, women and the elderly people." From DU munitions alone, Azzawi told the Kuala Lumpur conference that contamination is spread over vast areas by "wind storms, dust storms, sandstorms, and rainstorms," besides polluted waterways and surface migration in soil, causing: -- "Siltation, creeping, and suspension from contaminated soil to atmosphere; (and) -- Suspension and re-suspension of deposited DU aerosols....the most dangerous and critical pathway of transfer and spreading from source to the human population." America and Britain are responsible "for exposing a whole nation to the risk of continually receiving high radioactive and toxic persistent contaminants," including DU and many others, a noxious brew leaving no one untouched and many lethally harmed. "This is a crime against humanity (because of) its undifferentiated harmful health impacts on civilians long (after) military operations" are concluded. A Final Comment On September 19, BRussells Tribunal Executive Committee member Dirk Adriaensens headlined, "Iraq: The Age of Darkness," explaining "a devastating balance sheet (of) success," including: -- a 150% increase in child mortality since 1990; -- only half of primary-aged children in school; -- about 1,500 children in (horrific) detention facilities; -- in 2007, about "5 million Iraqi orphans;" -- over two million external refugees and almost three million internal ones (IDPs); -- official unemployment at 50%; real unemployment at least 70%; -- at least 43% of Iraqis "in abject poverty;" -- at least eight million need "emergency aid;" -- at least four million "lack food and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance;" -- at least 80% lack "effective sanitation;" -- "Religious minorities are on the verge of extinction;" and -- an Oxfam survey showed 33% of women got no humanitarian aid since 2003; 76% of widows lack pension help; 52% are unemployed; 55% have been displaced; and 55% have been "subjected to (various forms of) violence." In Iraq today, "killing of innocent people has become part of daily life." America is committing genocide against the entire population. It persists daily unreported, yet called "a success." It includes death, destruction, torture, terror, occupation, displacement, disease, and insecurity in a nation that no longer exists. For sure, one unfit to live in - unsafe, corrupt, terrorized, tyrannized, contaminated, and permanently occupied. In virtually all rankings that matter, Iraq scores last, Afghanistan second last, a testimony to America's liberating values. They're run from Washington with no functioning governments, de facto satraps instead obeying their imperial masters. Yet on August 31, declaring an "end to the combat mission in Iraq," Obama outrageously said: "Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility," infamously displaying his culpability as a war criminal, matching the worst America ever produced. Under him, George Bush, and their successors, "Iraq has no viable future," Adriaensens' final assessment of America's "success." Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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#1. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
Excellent article May God bless all righteous truth seekers Thank you/
I've never seen the hard studies on congenital birth defects in the region from before Gulf War I up through the present. Much is claimed, like a six-fold increase in defects but the proof so far seems lacking. The same claims were made for years about Agent Orange in Vietnam. The results of that were denied by the Pentagon but it did come to light. Now we hear comparable claims about DU but the proof, in an era with much more commonly available scientific gear, is kind of lacking.
May God bless all righteous truth seekers Thank you Amen, and Amen.
"The 'uniter' has brought the entire world together - to despise and deride us." lod
You are right; however, we live in an era with much more vicious, pronounced, and focused propaganda - the purpose of which is to keep Americans believing that U.S. incursion into those countries was to protect us back here at home and, at the same time, to convince us that Muslims and Islam are the new Huns,Japs,'Eyetalians',Slopes,and Gooks; thus, we now know that we are supposed to hate Ragheads,Cameljockies, and Hajis... If many Americans knew about D.U., they might begin to ask questions. That's bad.
"The 'uniter' has brought the entire world together - to despise and deride us." lod
I think people are asking and have done so for years. The government is just ignoring them. Like with Agent Orange. Mostly they're stonewalling until most of the victims die off and they'll then allow lawsuits for the remnant of sick and dying survivors. They save a lot of money this way. It's about reducing their liability for the things they've done.
taken in total what the US did to Iraq was a crime. US companies sold to Kuwait the equipment that would drill for oil in a diagonal fashion and thus steal billions of dollars worth of oil per year from Iraq. Then Iraq's president who was put into that position by the US asked the US if he could invade Kuwait to stop this theft. The US said 'OK'. and that was how it started. But every step of the way it was the same. The US arranged for bad things to happen to Iraq. and it was criminal.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
someone posted a story here maybe a month or two ago about the birth defects of Fallujah. In Fallujah the rate of birth defects is now much higher than at Hiroshima or nagasaki in the years after they had nuclear bombs dropped on them. I've seen several articles written by doctors who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. I've seen photos of the birth defect children. In Fallujah it is more likely to have a damaged child than a normal child. Like around 30% or so have such severe birth defects they don't even survive more than 3 years. I saw one photo of a boy with a penis on top of his head. They're born with their organs missing, organs in the wrong place, you have to see the photos to comprehend. go read the articles. you can find them. Doctors have gone to afghanistan, former yugoslavia and Iraq, doctors from Japan, Europe, US, south america, middle east. and it is very well documented that wherever DU munitions are used you have an increased birth defect affect in the births. it happened in former yugo, afghn & iraq. Afghanistan and Iraq have had many birth defects. Even americans have had birth defects from the DU dust.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
You didn't mention how we armed him and instigated his war on Iran to attack the new and weak Islamic Republic, a war perversely known in the West as the "Iran-Iraq War" despite Saddam clearly being the belligerent. It's a transparent propaganda sham worthy of Goebbels.
....and wouldn't you think Americans would be just a bit peeved that such video and photographs are withheld from them by our newspapers and television? No one enjoys being manipulated...
"The 'uniter' has brought the entire world together - to despise and deride us." lod
I have seen some of these. I'm more interested in the types of defects and hard numbers on them. Here in the States, you just don't see much in-depth reporting. And much of the overseas coverage comes via Lefty antiwar ideologues who won't be happy until everyone thinks Bush was Hitler. I haven't yet seen comprehensive and peer-reviewed material on genetic damage and environmental contamination in Iraq. I think we can assume it's bad but I want to know just how bad. Not that I expect you to go unearth it for me. I recall when we raided Saddam's old nuclear facility (al-Talwaitha ?), we found a lot of barrels missing, their yellow cake contents having been dumped on the ground. It was found that locals had come to steal the barrels to use them for water storage. Our troops went out and found most of them supposedly and returned them to the facility. Now, if the population of Iraq anticipated water outages, this is understandable. Arabs are quite sensitive to the horror of water shortages due to their climate and history. But if this was a very widespread phenomenon and people raided industrial sites for containers and barrels the same way that they drove clear out in the desert to get barrels from the nuclear site, you could have had millions of people storing water in very very contaminated containers. There really is no way to fully decontaminate a lot of industrial containers like barrels. I think in a few places like Fallujah, direct contamination by our weapons caused most of the problems. It isn't convincing to me to try to apply that model directly to the rest of Iraq where, in many places, there was no such sustained assault of heavy weapons. Like most things, the real truth will be complicated and have a variety of factors involved.
Actually, they prefer seeing happy reunions of military families at the airports so they can "S'port da troops". Oh, yeah, and no nasty coffins draped with flags. And get rid of those pictures of the suffering Iraqi citizens, talk happily about how much Iraqis are enjoying their new democracy. Seriously, half of this country must be retarded or oblivious if they fall for this drivel.
GW Bush's great grandfather began supporting the NAZIs with financial donations in 1926. his grandfather and great grandfather supported the NAZIs by serving as high officials in a NAZI associated bank here in the US from about 1931 to 1942. Prescott bush was still working for the NAZIs here in the US almost a year after Pearl Harbor. I've read articles on the birth defects written by the medical researchers themselves. and seen the pictures. some of the birth defects are fantastic. but you are right that we don't get this in our mainstream media, this makes it difficult. what about that guy Doug Rokke? (not sure on his name). he was an american military officer assigned to look into DU and investigate. He did, he had a team of people and they investigated. and most of the team ended up dead from he side-effects of DU. he's not a left-winger with an ax to grind. when the mass media simply won't report on an issue, then this makes it very hard on us. but the DU dust is only a small portion of the crime committed towards Iraq.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
I suspect you are right but that they will wait years for, say, 40% or more of the soldiers we sent there to die off. Again, just limiting their liability. Also, the pols and Pentagon types responsible will be safely retired or dead by then.
Doug Rokke is linked to in #15.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Looks interesting but seems light on scientific experts, no peer review, etc. I'd say that is sufficient to warrant a more widespread investigation by neutral scientists and American scientists. They'll just keep doing this stuff until we make them stop.
I haven't watched that movie 'beyond treason' at that web site. You have to buy it. but some of the people featured are experts. Doug Rokke investigated DU dust for the US army as it was his job. and some others in that video are speaking from first hand experience. I've seen a couple of sites that showed many pictures of the birth defect children. You don't need peer review or experts after you've examined their info. if something important happens and the mainstream media ignores it, then did it really happen?
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
As long as we have the internet and YouTube, it happened.
I've seen them. The question is exactly what caused them, how much increase was seen, over what size of an area, etc. I think DU is a bad leftover from the Cold War era, developed to pierce tank armor. We really shouldn't use it.
And IMHO this is enough proof for me to believe that the media is under the complete control of the federal government. This "liberal media" we always hear about is complete bullshit. There is no liberal media, there is no conservative media - there is only government propaganda. Will the fucking idiots on LP, FR and the hundreds or thousands of sites like those never understand this? Here's an example - on July 25, 1990, April Glaspie, the US Ambassador to Iraq, met with Hussein to discuss, among other things, relations between Iraq and it's neighbors, to include Kuwait. Here is a direct quote of her to Hussein as reported by the New York Times, "But we have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts, like your border disagreement with Kuwait. I was in the American Embassy in Kuwait during the late 60's. The instruction we had during this period was that we should express no opinion on this issue and that the issue is not associated with America. James Baker has directed our official spokesmen to emphasize this instruction. We hope you can solve this problem using any suitable methods via Klibi or via President Mubarak. All that we hope is that these issues are solved quickly. Sure they reported it, but they reported it as if they were reporting hog prices. It was quietly reported and then ignored. Why was this issue never brought up by the media prior to Desert Storm? They literally had months to do it. Was wasn't the Daddy Bush administration forced to justify their attack given this meeting? The administration should have been confronted with Glaspie's conversation. Questions should have been asked. Answers should have been demanded. The actions of the Bush administration in Desert Storm set the stage for 9/11 and everything that happened afterward. The media is in bed with the government. They are no fourth estate. They are an extension of the US intelligence apparatus.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 Nothing in the State, everything outside the State, everything against the State - Jan Lester, Escape From Leviathan "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." - Frederic Bastiat Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone. - Zhuangzi
US companies sold to Kuwait the equipment that would drill for oil in a diagonal fashion and thus steal billions of dollars worth of oil per year from Iraq. Then Iraq's president who was put into that position by the US asked the US if he could invade Kuwait to stop this theft. The US said 'OK'. and that was how it started. But every step of the way it was the same. The US arranged for bad things to happen to Iraq. and it was criminal. The American people wouldn't have gone for it were it not for this significant lie: I have not forgotten this lie nor will I ever. Sometimes it is more important to remember the lies (and recognizing them as such) than it is the actual events.
Democrats don't mind war as long as they can have big government. Republicans don't mind big government as long as they can have war.
See Operation Mockingbird for further proof of this.
The worst known genocide in the history of the world was the Muslim invasion of northern India.
“Let’s not forget that the bankers are the next-door neighbours of the politicians. Most people can see the picture: the bankers grease the politicians’ palms, the politicians bail out the bankers with public funds, the bankers pay themselves fat bonuses and loan the money back to the public with interest. It’s essentially a crime spree that benefits a social elite at the expense of many millions of victims.”
Attaboy Turdle! Get that disinformation line planted in there. And your support of that false assertion is? I didn't think so. As well in what way does that excuse the current situation? Because someone else has committed a bigger atrocity does that justify a smaller atrocity? Or was your point simply to keep the "hate da Mooselums" PsyOps line in play? An atrocity is an atrocity and regardless of the scale. Your attempt to deflect attention is dishonest, big surprise there, and inhuman. What other atrocities do you wish to excuse?
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
I agree 100%. they reported it as if they were reporting hog prices. It was quietly reported and then ignored that is how they did it with the april glespie info. and that is how they do some other stories that should be very important. and now for many years there is no mention at all of the april glespie info, even though it is very important from an historical point of view. down the memory hole. and when you or I tell our fellow Americans about it they think we're conspiracy theorists. You can be persecuted against by your fellow americans simply for telling them stuff like that. On the one hand americans are generally pretty ignorant that their government goes out of its way to create wars, on the other hand they want to be ignorant. I've grown too tired and sick to try to inform my fellow americans any more. it only leads to persecution.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
the lies are very difficult to deal with.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
we all should have learned that there's been atrocities or small scale genocide many times in many countries. going back in history I think that many nations share that guilt. it is so easy to forget that our own country has caused mass-deaths. at times. but we're particularly good at the denial part. Remember when Madelaine albright said quickly during an interview that it was definitely worthwhile to have caused over a million iraqi children to die due to policy. and the news media acted like her statement was normal. only normal for a psychopath. many americans learn to be psychotic (I think) from looking at examples like her. but in reality there's been many times when a million people die due to US policy. we asked saddam hussein to start a war with Iran and that war cost 1 million lives. and people say this was worthwhile to avenge the fact that 50 americans were held hostage at the time in Iran. But it wasn't the government of Iran that held those hostages, it was a radical political group instead. and they released those hostages alive. how can we justify killing a million for 50 hostages? I can't. I can justify in my mind direct military action to punish those who took them hostage or to try to free them and lay down an example as to what happens if you do those things. but the million who died in the Iran/Iraq war had nothing to do with taking our hostages. so if that was retribution it was mis-placed. and that does nobody any good. Americans can watch tv that will assure them that there is nothing wrong with taking an action that results in a million dead muslims. But the people in these other countries where the victims are do not watch American tv. their tv will over time teach them to hate us over what was done.
Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
#2. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
#3. To: Max (#1)
Excellent article
#4. To: TooConservative (#2)
Now we hear comparable claims about DU but the proof, in an era with much more commonly available scientific gear, is kind of lacking.
#5. To: Bub (#4)
#6. To: Bub, 4 (#4)
#7. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
#8. To: TooConservative (#2)
#9. To: Red Jones (#7)
US companies sold to Kuwait the equipment that would drill for oil in a diagonal fashion and thus steal billions of dollars worth of oil per year from Iraq. Then Iraq's president who was put into that position by the US asked the US if he could invade Kuwait to stop this theft. The US said 'OK'. and that was how it started. But every step of the way it was the same. The US arranged for bad things to happen to Iraq. and it was criminal.
#10. To: Lod, Red Jones, TooConservative (#6)
#11. To: Red Jones (#8)
I've seen several articles written by doctors who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. I've seen photos of the birth defect children. In Fallujah it is more likely to have a damaged child than a normal child. Like around 30% or so have such severe birth defects they don't even survive more than 3 years. I saw one photo of a boy with a penis on top of his head. They're born with their organs missing, organs in the wrong place, you have to see the photos to comprehend.
#12. To: Bub (#10)
....and wouldn't you think Americans would be just a bit peeved that such video and photographs are withheld from them by our newspapers and television? No one enjoys being manipulated...
#13. To: TooConservative (#11)
who won't be happy until everyone thinks Bush was Hitler.
#14. To: Red Jones (#13)
but the DU dust is only a small portion of the crime committed towards Iraq.
#15. To: Red Jones, 4 (#13)
here's a site that, among others, features Maj. Doug Rokke -
#16. To: TooConservative (#14)
#17. To: Red Jones (#16)
#18. To: TooConservative (#17)
#19. To: Red Jones, 4 (#18)
#20. To: Red Jones (#18)
I've seen a couple of sites that showed many pictures of the birth defect children. You don't need peer review or experts after you've examined their info.
#21. To: Red Jones (#13)
when the mass media simply won't report on an issue, then this makes it very hard on us.
#22. To: Red Jones (#7)
taken in total what the US did to Iraq was a crime.
#23. To: F.A. Hayek Fan, 4 (#21)
The media is in bed with the government. They are no fourth estate. They are an extension of the US intelligence apparatus.
#24. To: Stephen Lendman, Max (#0)
#25. To: Turdle, Turtle, Stephen Lendman, Max, abraxas, christine, all (#24)
(Edited)
The worst known genocide in the history of the world was the Muslim invasion of northern India.
#26. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#21)
This "liberal media" we always hear about is complete bullshit. There is no liberal media, there is no conservative media - there is only government propaganda
#27. To: PnbC (#22)
#28. To: Original_Intent (#25)
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