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View Full Version : Accusations of US Use of Chemical Agents in Fallujah Resurfaces




mactastic
Mar 8, 2005, 06:49 PM
Dr. Khalid ash-Shaykhli, an official at Iraq’s health ministry, said that the U.S. military used internationally banned weapons during its deadly offensive in the city of Fallujah.

Dr. ash-Shaykhli was assigned by the ministry to assess the health conditions in Fallujah following the November assault there.

He said that researches, prepared by his medical team, prove that U.S. occupation forces used internationally prohibited substances, including mustard gas, nerve gas, and other burning chemicals in their attacks in the war-torn city.

The health official announced his findings at a news conference in the health ministry building in Baghdad.

The press conference was attended by more than 20 Iraqi and foreign media networks, including the Iraqi ash-Sharqiyah TV network, the Iraqi as-Sabah newspaper, the U.S. Washington Post and the Knight-Ridder service.

Dr. ash-Shaykhli started the conference by reporting the current health conditions of the Fallujah residents. He said that the city is still suffering from the effects of chemical substances and other types of weapons that cause serious diseases over the long term.

Asked whether limited nuclear weapons were also used by U.S. forces in Fallujah, Dr. ash-Shaykhli said; “What I saw during our research in Fallujah leads me to me believe everything that has been said about that battle.

“I absolutely do not exclude their use of nuclear and chemical substances, since all forms of nature were wiped out in that city. I can even say that we found dozens, if not hundreds, of stray dogs, cats, and birds that had perished as a result of those gasses.”

Dr. ash-Shaykhli promised to send the findings of the researches to responsible bodies inside Iraq and abroad.

Fallujah residents said napalm gas was used

During the U.S. offensive, Fallujah residents reported that they saw “melted” bodies in the city, which suggests that U.S. forces used napalm gas, a poisonous cocktail of polystyrene and jet fuel that makes the human body melt.

In November, Labour MPs in the UK demanded Prime Minister Tony Blair to confront the Commons over the use of napalm gas in Fallujah.

Furious critics have also demanded that Blair threatens the U.S. to pullout British forces from Iraq unless the U.S. stops using the world’s deadliest weapon.

The United Nations banned the use of the napalm gas against civilians in 1980 after pictures of a naked wounded girl in Vietnam shocked the world.

The United States, which didn't endorse the convention, is the only nation in the world still using the deadly weapon.

This rumor has persisted for several months, and now ash-Shaykhli says he has proof that indeed such attacks did take place.

If this is true, it is outrageous and should count as a war crime. Hell, if this is true Bush, Cheney, Rummy, Myers and a few others should face tribunals at the Hague. However, I would very much like to see his proof, and see what kind of evidence he can produce to substiantiate his claim. I have a very hard time believing that the military would think no one would notice if they dropped nalpalm or mustard gas on civilians.

Link (http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=7216)



Thanatoast
Mar 8, 2005, 07:27 PM
Considering this is the first I've heard of this rumor, perhaps it's not so outrageous for them to think they could get away with it, assuming it actually happened.

blackfox
Mar 9, 2005, 12:07 AM
Perhaps that's where all those missing WMD were...the US just happened to inadvertantly explode them with their artillary barrage.

Could be...

I'd like to know more before I voice any opinion on the matter.

diamond geezer
Mar 9, 2005, 04:13 AM
It's a good sign for Iraq, that this sort of thing is openly commented on by Iraqi officials.

skunk
Mar 9, 2005, 05:06 AM
And why haven't you lot signed up for the landmine and chemical weapons bans?

amnesiac1984
Mar 9, 2005, 08:34 AM
I think I remember this story being in the Guardian or something right after fallujah happened with eyewitness reports etc. To be honest I really don't think Bush et al really give a damn about any repercussions of their actions, because they'll be world leaders before they ever get held accountable. :p

mactastic
Mar 9, 2005, 11:30 AM
I'd like to know more before I voice any opinion on the matter.

Me as well. But this rumor is out there in the Arab world for sure, so the WH better deal with it.

takao
Mar 9, 2005, 12:07 PM
I think I remember this story being in the Guardian or something right after fallujah happened with eyewitness reports etc. To be honest I really don't think Bush et al really give a damn about any repercussions of their actions, because they'll be world leaders before they ever get held accountable. :p

yeah i remember it as well ..at least it was in german/austrian newspapers...

and i got to agree it pretty much will get ignored...

Thanatoast
Mar 9, 2005, 01:15 PM
And why haven't you lot signed up for the landmine and chemical weapons bans?
If we can't use landmines and chemical weapons, what's the fun in killing people anymore?

I think it's because we have this bunker mentality leftover from the cold war. The military (which is currently #2 on the ladder of influence, right behind the corporate kleptocracy) doesn't want to give up any tool that might give it an advantage. Of course, it's also possible the politicians simply haven't seen that the risks (pariahship, generally nasty conflicts, more deaths and injuries) outweigh the benefits (keep using landmines and c/bw).

Dont Hurt Me
Mar 15, 2005, 06:29 AM
Perhaps that's where all those missing WMD were...the US just happened to inadvertantly explode them with their artillary barrage.

Could be...

I'd like to know more before I voice any opinion on the matter.
Bingo! im sure we hit a few depots where Saddam had this stuff i dont think they would bother with this stuff when they have bombs they can put through your window or chiminey stack from 20,000 ft. There is no need.