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Apology For The Iraq War

By Mary Hamer

12 February, 2013
Countercurrents.org

PURPOSE: This essay on the Iraq war is Not about Criminalizing those responsible for the 2003 invasion & the 7 year occupation of Iraq; Rather this paper Is about acknowledging the the Human rights violations, the Ethical issues & the Negative Outcome of the Iraq war -- including: the Pain & suffering of the Iraqi people & the Disrespect of this aggressive act. This article is Not about indicting people for War Crimes or conducting a Nuremberg trial; Rather this essay is about acknowledging the failures of this Tragic historical event. This article is Not about judging U.S. troops – I highly respect the American troops; Rather this essay Is about the failures in Leadership. Ultimately, this paper is an Apology for the Iraq War.

* MISSION STATEMENT: APOLOGY : I Apologize to the Iraqi people, to the International community & to future generations for the Iraq War of 2003-2010 & the consequences of this war. I grieve when I think of how Iraq has been destroyed in the name of Democracy & Freedom. The premises of this war were false including the Weapons of Mass destruction claim. The truth is: the Iraq war was waged for Oil. Now Iraq is in ruins, the children are sucking on spent depleted uranium bullets as toys & people are being raped in the Iraqi prisons by mentally disturbed prison guards. The Iraq infrastructure is destroyed.   Refugees are fleeing the country.  I have existential angst for daily life in Iraq . I cry for the Iraqi people. To the Iraqi people I offer this Apology.

* APOLOGY : Here is my 10 point APOLOGY regarding the IRAQ WAR:

#1. IRAQI DEATHS : Dr. Gideon Polya states regarding the Iraq War of 2003-2010: “As of … 2010 Post-invasion Violent deaths in Occupied Iraq total 1.4 million.” (1) A. “Post-invasion non-violent excess deaths (avoidable deaths, deaths that did not have to happen) total 1.1 million.” (1) B. “Post-invasion under-5 infant deaths total 0.8 million.”

Dr. Polya concludes his 2010 review with” This is an Iraqi Holocaust and an Iraqi Genocide as per Article 2 of the UN Genocide Convention.” (1)

U.S. TROOP DEATHS: As of 2010 there (were) 4425 U.S. troop deaths as a result of the Iraq war. (2)

#2. BIRTH DEFECTS in IRAQ :

* EXAMPLES: of birth defects in Iraq since the Gulf Wars include: Hydrocephalus, anencephaly, encephaloceles, spina bifida, cardiac defects, severe malformations of the face, deformities of arms & legs, malformations of hands & feet, genital deformities, strange skin deformities including a lack of skin & discolorations, etc.. (3) (4) “Officials have advised women in Fallujah not to have children.” (5)

* FALLUJAH : “ In September 2009, (Doctors at Fallujah General Hospital) asked the United Nations to investigate why a quarter of the 170 babies born there that month had died within seven days & a staggering 75 per cent of the dead babies were deformed.” “In 2010, the University of Ulster reported that increases in congenital birth defects, leukemia and infant mortality in Falluja were higher than in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.” “Among the children with birth defects, lead levels were five times higher and mercury levels six times higher than for normal children.”

* BASRA : “In Basra, birth defects had gone up to 23 per 1,000 births by 2003, a 17-fold increase since 1994.”

* U.S. & BRITISH Response: “The American and British governments try to deflect such damning studies by saying they were ‘Not aware of them,' or that the findings may not be definitive.” (6)

*Other Reports: “ High rates of miscarriage, toxic levels of lead and mercury contamination and spiralling numbers of birth defects ranging from congenital heart defects to brain dysfunctions and malformed limbs have been recorded (in Iraq).” “ There is ‘Compelling evidence' to link the increased numbers of defects and miscarriages (in Iraq) to military assaults, says Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, one of the lead authors of the report and an environmental toxicologist at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health.”(7)

U.S. VETERANS BIRTH DEFECTS: A “Consequence of DU exposure is damage to sperm causing many severe deformities in the children born to veterans of the first Gulf War. A group of 251 soldiers from Mississippi , who all had normal babies before service in Iraq , were studied. 67% of their post war babies were born with severe birth defects. These children were missing legs, arms, organs or eyes & had immune system & blood diseases. … The Department of Defense denies any knowledge of birth defects in Gulf War I veterans.” (8)

#3. DEPLETED URANIUM: RADIOCIDE:

*I define the neologism: Radiocide to mean the criminal act of willfully, recklessly with depraved indifference or negligently causing significant harm to people, animals & the Earth -- with radioactive substances. Radiocide occurs as a result of Nuclear technology activities including the Military use of Depleted Uranium. (9) Has Radiocide been committed in Iraq ?; Have Depleted uranium & other banned weapons been willfully & recklessly used in Iraq to cause significant harm to life? These radioactive weapons cause dishonor not only to the living, current generation of Iraqi people -- but also to future generations of unborn Iraqis.

#4. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS : PRISON RAPES, TORTURE & HANGING

* RAPE : “W hen women in Iraq are arrested, they routinely go through three gruesome phases, starting with humiliation, followed by torture, and often ending with rape.” “Torture of Iraqi Female Prisoners: The prison supervisors use many different forms of physical and psychological torture, which they learned from their Americans and the Iranians supervisors. These methods include: Taking off the clothes of the prisoners for ... hours, while insulting them. Beating them hard with sticks or kicking them hard in the loins. Electrical shocks in their breasts, loins and head. Using all kinds of sexual harassment … Recurrent rape after midnight by the guards and other persons who work in the prison, in the presence of the prison manager. … The prison manager and the other supervisors, continuously repeat” the rapes. (10) “The use of torture and sexual abuse in prisons has become systematic in Iraq .” “In June 2010 the General Secretary of the Union of Political Prisoners and Detainees in Iraq , Muhammad Adham al-Hamd declared that the US occupation administration in Iraq relied on systematic rape, torture, and sadistic treatment of Iraqi women prisoners in its prison camps in the country. Al-Hamd said that the enormous crimes being committed against women in the prison camps in occupied Iraq had the support and blessings of the US military, for whom the practices served as a means to bring psychological pressure on men engaged in the Resistance, in an attempt to break their spirit and fighting will.” (11)

* ABU GHRAIB : The Abu Ghraib Prison Torture scandal of the Iraq War showed great disrespect to the Iraqi people. Abu Ghraib photographs show: Thumbs up poses in front of a dead man, terrorizing prisoners with barking dogs, forcing a hooded prisoner to stand on a box, pointing to a nude prisoner's genitals, thumbs up poses in front of a pyramid of nude prisoners, leashed prisoners, forcing prisoners to wear underwear on their heads, parading around a mentally disturbed inmate covered in mud & possible feces, causing injuries to prisoners including gunshot wounds & beating, etc.. (12) (13)

* SADDAM HUSSEIN HANGING : 3RD GENEVA CONVENTION :

The 3rd Geneva Convention is about the treatment of prisoners of war: e.g. Prisoners: “Shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, including prohibition of (assaults on) personal dignity, in particular humiliation & degrading treatment”. (14) M.C. Land of Stuttgart, Germany states: “Looking at Hussein (a Sunni) being harassed by the Shiite executioners in his last minutes is a shameful scene & a dishonor for the Iraqi government”. (15) Saddam Hussein's executioners “Converted ‘Justice' into … Revenge & hate”. (16) Overall, The harassment of Saddam Hussein by his executioners & the illegal cell phone recording of Saddam Hussein falling through the trap door -- have humiliated & shamed the Iraqi people; This poorly managed execution: #1. Violated the basic human right to die with dignity & #2. Saddam Hussein's hanging was an act of murder.

#5. DESTRUCTION of IRAQ 'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

DAILY LIVING CONDITIONS & QUALITY of LIFE INDICATORS:

* Least Livable City on the Planet Earth: In May 2010 “The Mercer Quality of Living survey released it's results of (the) ‘most livable city' (in the world) in 2010. It ranked Baghdad dead last – The least livable city on the planet”. -- “This is due to the complete destruction of Iraq 's sewage treatment plants, factories, schools, hospitals, museums & power plants”. (17)

ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER: “Twenty years of war, sanctions & occupation demolished Iraq . The Gulf War was an economic & environmental disaster, destroying: power & chemical plants, factories, dams, water purification facilities, sewage treatment & disposal systems, oil wells, pipelines, refineries & storage tanks”. The Gulf War attacks have left Iraq with a “Deadly cocktail of Oil, gasoline, heavy metals, DU, pesticides, benzene & other chemical & pollutants. Also, the Iraqis have a GMO contaminated food supply, water too unsafe to drink; Sanitation, electricity & decent housing are in short supply; & most Iraqis (are) deprived of adequate medical, education & other essential services”. (18)

#6. PRESIDENT BUSH : MISSION from GOD

”I'M DRIVEN with a MISSION from GOD”: “President Bush told two high-ranking Palestinian officials that he had been told by God to invade  ... Iraq ”. “President Bush said to all of us: ‘I'm driven with a mission from God'” a Palestinian official said. (19) President Bush said: “God would tell me: ‘George go & end the tyranny in Iraq '. & I did.” (20) The use of God & relition to wage an aggressive war has violated the basic human rights & dignity of the Iraqi people.

#7. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM:

The WAR of AGGRESSION, SHOCK & AWE & TERRORISM Charge.

Jensen states: “Under international law & the U.S. Constitution (the Iraq ) invasion (was) illegal”. (The Iraq invasion did not have) the necessary approval of the United Nations Security Council & (it was not) a response to an imminent attack”. (21)

*SHOCK & AWE: Shock & Awe is “Technically known as rapid dominance” & it is “A military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power … & spectacular displays of force … (to) destroy (the enemy's) will to fight”. (22)

*TERRORISM CHARGE: “According to The Guardian correspondent Brian Whitaker in 2003: ‘To some in the Arab & Muslim countries, Shock & Awe is Terrorism'” (23) “Anti-war protesters in 2003 … claimed that ‘The shock & awe pummeling of Baghdad (was) a kind of terrorism'”. (24)

#8. GENEVA CONVENTIONS VIOLATIONS :

COLLATERAL DAMAGE/MURDER Video: The Collateral Damage/Murder “Video taken from the gun-sight camera of a U.S. Apache helicopter, depicts the July 2007 massacre of over a dozen civilians in Baghdad, including two Reuters journalists. The film, which includes the chatter of the helicopter crew reveling in the killing, also shows an attack on a family that tried to aid the wounded, killing more unarmed civilians & wounding two young children.” (25) Comments made during this event include: “It's their fault for bringing their kids into a battle”, “Look at those dead B!@#$%”, “Light ‘em all up”, the “F” word, “Look at that B!@#$ go”, “Nice”, “Ha ha!”, etc.. (26)

* INTERNATIONAL LAW & The GENEVA CONVENTIONS :

“In terms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention rulings, there were at least three violations of law in (the Collateral Damage) incident. It is the opinion of Marjorie Cohn, an expert on International Law, (#1) that the attack on civilians was the first violation of International law. (#2) The second was to kill the wounded and the Good Samaritan, and (#3) the third was the desecration of a dead body by running over it with a tank.” (27)

#9. The WAR on TERROR : Hassan reviews Lawrence Britt's 7th characteristic of Fascism: the Obsession with National Security: “The so-called ‘War on Terrorism' is meaningless. First, it is a manufactured catch-all phrase to label & demonize the enemy … & Second, it is a pretext to justify aggressive wars …”. (28) This War on Terror slogan to create a so-called enemy has caused a great injustice & dishonor to the Iraqi people.

#10. COST . The financial cost of the Iraq War to the U.S. economy is estimated at $3 Trillion. (29)

* CONCLUSION : Overall, I apologize to the Iraqi people for the lack of International accountability for the Iraq War. We are all responsible for the Iraq War crimes, the crimes against humanity, crimes against the Earth & crimes against future generations in Iraq . There has been a tragic & strange silence in the world community regarding the Iraq war. Why is No world leader stepping up to the Microphone to take responsibility for the injustices committed to the Iraqi people? Where is the International humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people -- in the face of such devastation & destruction? Why can't the International community see the monstrosity & evil within ourselves that perpetrates & turns a blind eye to such crimes committed against the Iraqi people? How can we go about our daily lives drinking our café lattes – with No sense of shame about the Iraq war? – While children in Fallujah are born without heads? & While Iraq faces the danger of a Civil War? (30) Why are we in such Denial? Are we mad? Are we delusional? Are we so Narcissistic & in love with ourselves, in our lust for Oil -- that we lack compassion for the suffering Iraqi people?

Mary Hamer MD U.S.A. is a medical doctor who writes Earth, human & animal rights essays.

REFERENCES:

1. Iraqi Holocaust , Iraqi Genocide & The 7th Anniversary Of Invasion Of Iraq.

www.countercurrents.org/ polya 190310.htm . Referencing: A. US Just Foreign Policy. B. UN Population Division.

2. icasualites.org. Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom Casualties.

3. www.xs4all.nl. Extreme Birth Deformities.

4. thewe.cc. New World Order Statistic.

5. www.upi.com. Iraq Birth Defects. UPI. 3/4/10 .

6. American Bombing of Iraq Left Legacy of Deformed Babies ... by Haroon Siddiqui .

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/21-2 .

7. Iraq records huge rise in birth defects - Health News - Health ... www.independent.co.uk › Life Health & Families Health News by Sarah Morrison. 10/14/12.

8. www.newswithviews.com. Depleted Uranium, Anthrax Vaccine & the Gulf War Syndrome. By Dr. James Howenstine, M.D. 8/14/5 .

9. Hamer, Mary. Apology to the Native American Indians. Countercurrents.org. 12/8/9 .

10. The Dark And Secret Dungeons Of Iraq : Horror Stories Of Female ...

www.countercurrents.org/nadhar041212.htm. by Wijhat Nadhar. 12/12/12 .

11. Women , Men And Children Are Routinely Tortured And Raped In ... by Dirk Adriaensens. www.countercurrents.org/adriaensens291112.htm .

12. middleeast.about.com. Abu Ghraib Torture Photos. By Pierre Tristam.

13. www.antiwar.com. Abu Ghraib Abuse Photos. 2/17/6 .

14. en.wikipedia.org. Third Geneva Convention. View date: 1/2/11 .

15. articles.cnn.com. Your e-mails: ‘More of a Lynching than an Execution. 1/3/7 .

16. www.islamicsupremecounscil.com. The Death of Saddam Hussein. By Syed Soharwardy.

17. www.countercurrents.org. Iraq : The Age of Darkness. By Dirk Adriaensens. 9/20/10 . Referencing: www.mercer.com. Quality of Living worldwide City Rankings 2010. & www.michaelmoore.com The Truth about the ‘End of Combat Operations'. By Michael Prysner. 8/22/10 .

18. www.countercurrents.org. Iraq Pullout: Mission Accomplished or Strategic Retreat? By Stephen Lendman. Countercurrents.org. 8/24/10 .

19. articles.sfgate.com. Bush said God told him to Invade Iraq , Arab Leaders say. Kalman, Matthew. 10.7/5. Chronicle Foreign Service.

20. www.guardian.co.uk. George Bush: ‘God Told Me to End the Tyranny in Iraq '. By Ewen MacAskill. The Guardian. 10/6/5 .

21. www.countercurrents.org. Jensen, Robert. There are No Heroes in Illegal & Immoral Wars. 8/23/10 .

22. en.wikipedia.org. Shock & Awe. Referencing Harlan K. Ullman & James P. Wade. Shock & Awe: Achieving Rapid Dominance. National Defense University . 1996.

23. en.wikipedia.org. Shock & Awe. Referencing: Whitaker, B. 3/24/3 . Flags in the Dust. Guardian Unlimited Iraq Special Report at Guardian.co.uk.

24. en.wikipedia.org. Shock & Awe. Referencing: Antiwar Protesters Spar with Police. The Washington Post. 3/22/3 .

25. www.countercurrents.org. Pentagon Retaliates against WikiLeaks, Pvt. Manning. By Bill Van Auken. WSWS.org. 7/30/10 .

26. www.collateralmurder.com. Transcript.

27. The Collateral Murder video (from Wikileaks) and free-fire zones . By Christopher Brown. www.worldcantwait.net › Wikileaks Referencing: Marjorie Cohn. http://www.marjoriecohn.com/2010/09/bradley-manning-american-hero.html .

28. www.countercurrents.org. Hassan, Ghali. The Rise & Rise of Super Fascism. Countercurrents.org. 12/25/10 . Referencing: Lawrence Britt's 2003 essay: Fascism Anyone?

29. en.wikipedia.org. The Iraq War. Referencing: Iraq War hits U.S. Economy. By Daniel Trotta. 3/2/8.Reuters.com. Referencing: the Book: The 3 Trillion Dollar War by Joseph Stiglitz & Linda Bilmes.

30. www.countercurrents.org . Is Iraq on It's Way to a Civil War? By Adil E. Shamoo. 2/9/13 .

 

 




 

 


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