Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Using chemical weapons in Iraq

POGGE has linked to this story -- Blacklist bootlick: Feds' barring of Iraqi doc speaking on Fallujah massacre has made-In-USA feel -- noting that Canada refused to give this doctor a visa, perhaps because he is critical of the War in Iraq.
I wanted to focus on a different aspect. The story says that "Though [Iraqi doctor Salam Ismael] can't prove it, he believes many of the injuries he saw were consistent with an attack with chemical weapons."
I pulled together evidence from several news stories and photo websites on this question. The US confirmed in August, 2003 that they were using an upgraded version of napalm against military positions during the Iraq invasion. And if you can bring yourself to do it, look at the horrific photos on this website showing unidentified victims in Falluja, whose photos were taken apparently so that they might be identified. I don't know who could identify even their own child from photos like these, where bodies are blackened, flesh burned away, limbs missing, faces obliterated -- some of these bodies do look like chemical warfare victims. If everyone left in Fallujah last November was considered to be an insurgent, then I guess it would have been possible for the military to consider all of Fallujah as a military target where chemical warfare is apparently permitted under their rules of engagement.

No comments: