Tuesday, June 21, 2005
.....very interesting, if disturbing.
A startling report has emerged this weekend that the U.S. has used napalm fire bombs in Iraq and then lied about it to the British government.
According to The Independent, the U.S. used 30 MK77 firebombs – a new generation of incendiary weapons - during the initial Iraqi invasion between March 31 and April 2 2003.
Like white phosphorus ammunitions, napalm has a strategic role when used against civilian populations. Napalm not only produces a sticky burning gel that adheres to the skin as it burns through, leading to loss of blood pressure and eventually death in a short period of time, but it also releases clouds of carbon monoxide that can kill by asphyxiation. (Everyone will remember the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the naked girl in Vietnam, running down the road screaming as her skin burned with napalm.)
A 1980 UN convention banned the use of napalm against civilians - after those pictures shocked the world.
America, which didn't ratify the treaty, is the only country in the world still using the weapon.
[more »]
* * * * * * * * *
It is now time for the international community to hold the White House and the Pentagon responsible. In particular, those in the Bush administration and the top ranks of the military who approved the use of such weapons and then knowingly lied about it need to be help accountable. Our leaders need to know that we the citizens of the United State do not support the use of chemical weapons in any fashion and categorically abhor the enrichment of ammunitions with depleted uranium.
And if the U.S. will not take responsibility for its actions, then the international community needs to hold them accountable.
Freiheit und Wissen has a thoroughly researched post and add'l info.
A startling report has emerged this weekend that the U.S. has used napalm fire bombs in Iraq and then lied about it to the British government.
According to The Independent, the U.S. used 30 MK77 firebombs – a new generation of incendiary weapons - during the initial Iraqi invasion between March 31 and April 2 2003.
Like white phosphorus ammunitions, napalm has a strategic role when used against civilian populations. Napalm not only produces a sticky burning gel that adheres to the skin as it burns through, leading to loss of blood pressure and eventually death in a short period of time, but it also releases clouds of carbon monoxide that can kill by asphyxiation. (Everyone will remember the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the naked girl in Vietnam, running down the road screaming as her skin burned with napalm.)
A 1980 UN convention banned the use of napalm against civilians - after those pictures shocked the world.
America, which didn't ratify the treaty, is the only country in the world still using the weapon.
[more »]
It is now time for the international community to hold the White House and the Pentagon responsible. In particular, those in the Bush administration and the top ranks of the military who approved the use of such weapons and then knowingly lied about it need to be help accountable. Our leaders need to know that we the citizens of the United State do not support the use of chemical weapons in any fashion and categorically abhor the enrichment of ammunitions with depleted uranium.
And if the U.S. will not take responsibility for its actions, then the international community needs to hold them accountable.
Freiheit und Wissen has a thoroughly researched post and add'l info.
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