US Atrocities in Fallujah : The Proof

Italian public news channel RAI 24 ran a documentary last night on the US use of white phosphorus and napalm on the citizens of Fallujah. In the investigative story, produced by Maurizio Torrealta, dramatic footage is shown revealing the effects of the bombardment on civilians, women and children, some of whom were surprised in their sleep.

The investigators broadcast documentary proof of the use in Iraq of a new napalm formula called MK77.

The MK-77 is a napalm canister munition. The MK77 familiy is an evolution of the incendiary bombs M-47 and M-74, used during the conflict in Korea and the war in Vietnam. Napalm is an incendiary mixture of benzene, gasoline and polystyrene. The Marine Corps dropped all of the approximately 500 MK-77s used in the Gulf War. They were delivered primarily by the AV-8 Harriers from relatively low altitudes. MK-77s were used to ignite the Iraqis oil-filled fire trenches, which were part of barriers constructed in southern Kuwait.

The use of the incendiary substance on civilians is forbidden by a 1980 UN treaty. The use of chemical weapons is forbidden by a treaty which the US signed in 1997.

"The CWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons by its signatories. It also requires the destruction of all chemical weapons and production facilities. The Convention provides the most extensive and intrusive verification regime of any arms control treaty, extending its coverage to not only governmental but also civilian facilities. The Convention also requires export controls and reporting requirements on chemicals that can be used as warfare agents and their precursors. The CWC establishes the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to oversee the Convention's implementation."

Unfortunately the USA neglected to sign the part of the treaty that refers to the use of these chemicals, just like they didn't sign up for the ICC.

The use of white phosphorus violates the Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare. Incendiary agents such as napalm and phosphorus are 'not considered to be CW agents since they achieve their effect mainly through thermal energy - therefore the US did not sign. How very convenient.

Information Clearing House has very quickly made an English-language version of the video available here.

WARNING: very graphic, not worksafe.

This is what these weapons do when used against civilians.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency describes white phosphorus as either a yellow or colorless, volatile crystalline sold that darkens when exposed to light and ignites in air to form white fumes and greenish light. The website also states that white phosphorus is extremely toxic to humans.

Acute exposure to high levels in humans is has three stages: the first stage consists of gastrointestinal effects; the second stage is symptom-free and lasts about two days; the third stage consists of gastrointestinal effects, plus effects on the kidneys, liver and cardiovascular system. Chronic exposure results in necrosis of the jaw, termed “phossy jaw”. Dermal exposure to white phosphorus may result in severe burns, which are necrotic, yellowish, fluorescent under ultraviolet light and have a garlic-like odor.

According to another website, http://www.rmarlowe.freeserve.co.uk/chemicals_m-z.html, the effects of ingestion are extremely unpleasant. Symptoms begin with severe irritation of the gastro-intestinal tract, accompanied by sever vomiting and loss of mucosal surfaces of the stomach and intestine. The liver and kidneys will also be affected, leading to severe jaundice.

Death can follow after several days. The inhalation of gaseous or particulate as a result of processing is a more widespread problem. Inhalation can lead to osteomyelitis of the jaw bone (“phossy jaw”).

Severe burns can result if phosphorus comes into contact with the skin: white phosphorus burns in ambient temperature air, and continues to burn until entirely oxidised unless extinguished in water. And it sticks. People literally melt away. Some incendiary chemicals used by the US have an additional oxidising agent added, to burn longer.

The Pentagon flat-out denies that it uses incendiaries against civilians, just like it denies that it tortures. From Kos:

"More word games at the Pentagon. They've recently denied reports that they used napalm against troops in Iraq. Reporters have claimed they did and so to have Air Force pilots We napalmed both those bridge approaches said one.

Turns out the weapons used were "remarkably similar" to napalm, the firebombing agent used extensively during the Vietnam War. Those burning Vietnamese kids running from giant orange balls of fire in the classic pictures were being "napalmed." Highly controversial, it was banned by a United Nations convention in 1980 that the United States refused to sign. The U.S. did claim to have destroyed its napalm arsenal two years ago but here it is napalming Iraqi troops.

When is napalm not napalm? When you switch gasoline for for jet fuel apparently. The new not-napalm has the happy name of "Mark 77," which sounds more like the latest boy band than the latest firebombing agent. Marine spokesperson Col. Michael Daily explained the difference between the gasoline of napalm and jet fuel of Mark 77 in a recent email:

'This additive has significantly less of an impact on the environment.'

Nice to know the Pentagon is environmentally-senstive when it's roasting people alive. "

Much, much more on Falluja, chemical weapons and atrocities here.

Please link to the video. It's horrific, but the more links to this footage that there are, the less the Pentagon can deny it. And they will.

But let's not forget, THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO THIS. This is not friendly fire, or collateral damage, or rogue soldiers.

Edward Hammond, CounterPunch, February 7, 2003

'Top US military planners are preparing for the US to use incapacitating biochemical weapons in an invasion of Iraq. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed the plans in February 5th testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee. This is the first official US acknowledgement that it may use (bio)chemical weapons its crusade to rid other countries of such weapons. The Sunshine Project and other nonprofits have warned since late 2001 that the "War on Terrorism" may result the United States using prohibited biological and chemical armaments, thereby violating the same treaties it purports to defend. The US announcement creates grave concerns for the future of arms control agreements, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Rumsfeld stated that plans are being made for multiple applications, including use of gas or aerosols on unarmed Iraqi civilians, in caves, and on prisoners. Rumsfeld reiterated the confusing, typical US official language about so-called "non-lethal" biochemical weapons, which is at odds with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Rumsfeld described applications of a "riot agent" that clearly imply the complete incapacitation of victims, combatant and non-combatant, in armed conflict - a definition and usages that are at odds with the CWC. Rumsfeld acknowledged US ratification of the CWC but expressed "regret" about its restrictions, stating that the US has "tangled ourselves up so badly" on policy for use of incapacitating biochemical weapons. Rumsfeld indicated that - in his opinion - if President Bush signs a waiver of long-standing restrictions on US use of incapacitating chemicals, that the US will be able to legally field them in Iraq and elsewhere.'

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Posted 11:55 AM by Republic of Palau

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