Posted on 03/15/2002 12:31:52 PM PST by Hellmouth
DID US PLOT TO POISON IRAQ’S WATER?
Writing on The Progressive magazine’s Web page, Thomas J. Nagy quotes extensively from recently declassified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) documents, "proving beyond a doubt that, contrary to the Geneva Convention, the US government intentionally used sanctions against Iraq to degrade the country’s water supply after the Gulf War."
One document, "Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities," dated Jan. 22, 1991, spells out how sanctions will prevent Iraq from supplying clean water to its citizens: "Iraq depends on importing specialized equipment and some chemicals to purify its water supply, most of which is heavily mineralized and frequently brackish to saline. With no domestic sources of both water treatment replacement parts and some essential chemicals, Iraq will continue attempts to circumvent United Nations sanctions to import these vital commodities. Failing to secure supplies will result in a shortage of pure drinking water for much of the population. This could lead to increased incidences, if not epidemics, of disease."
Iraq’s rivers "contain biological materials, pollutants, and are laden with bacteria. Unless the water is purified, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid epidemics could occur." Noting that importation of chlorine "has been embargoed" by sanctions, the document states, "Recent reports indicate the chlorine supply is critically low." The document predicts: "Iraq will suffer increasing shortages of purified water because of the lack of required chemicals and desalination membranes. Incidences of disease, including possible epidemics, will become probable unless the population were careful to boil water."
Another DIA document of the same day, "Effects of Bombing on Disease Occurrence in Baghdad," states: "Increased incidence of diseases will be attributable to degradation of normal preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification/distribution, electricity, and decreased ability to control disease outbreaks. Any urban area in Iraq that has received infrastructure damage will have similar problems." The document itemizes likely outbreaks. It mentions "acute diarrhea" brought on by E. coli, shigella, salmonella or giardia–which will affect "particularly children." The document warns that Iraq’s government may "blame the United States for public health problems created by the military conflict."
Nagy states that the Geneva Convention is absolutely clear on the illegality of targeting civilian water supplies. A 1979 protocol on "protection of victims of international armed conflicts," Article 54, states: "It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove, or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies, and irrigation works…whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive." (www.progressive.org)
Well, that helps us narrow down the search for Saddam's biological and chemical warfare production. Time to look upstream.
Hey, maybe you should put down the HIGH TIMES and whatever you're smoking, and go get a little snack- maybe a couple dozen donuts?
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