Iraq: Fallujah Massacre and Chemical Weapons

LadyBird of Baghdad Dweller, Nur al-Cubicle, thecutter of PeacePalestine and Sabbah, all write about the breaking news of the proof that the U.S. troops used Chemical Weapons in Iraq. The movie was broadcast by the Italian RAI News 24 today, and created a shock around the world about a controversy topic that was once denied by U.S. official last year.

9 comments

  • Unfortunately, it would appear that white phosphorus is not considered a banned chemical weapon under international law. I wonder why that’s the case since it’s clearly a cruel weapon whose nature can only be described as “chemical.”

  • It’s still being denied. Check out today’s Democracy Now where a Pentagon spokesman denies everything! I thought this was big news too (though I read about it 2 years ago) but in the end I think it will do little to change peoples’ perspectives, whatever they might be.

  • […] While the U.S. use of White Phosphorus in Iraq is still burning, umkahlil and thecutter are reminding that Israel used White Phosphorus in an antipersonnel mode in populated areas in southern Lebanon and Palestine. (Reference: Human Rights Watch Report) […]

  • kaz

    What hipcrites the US govenment are. They attach Iraq because they think there are chemical weapons (which they couldn’t find)with chemical weapons. This is democracy US style.
    The whole war is about controlling the dwindling oil supplies and all the other excuses are just a smokescreeen.
    People that beleive this whole war on terror coming from an ex alcoholic who was probably never cured must be naive.

  • The use of incendiary weapons are prohibited for attacking civilians (Protocol III of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons)

    This protocol (III) was not signed by US. For other obviously more civilized countries that did sign the complete treaty it would be illegal.


    PROTOCOL ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF INCENDIARY WEAPONS (PROTOCOL III)

    Article 1 Definitions For the purpose of this Protocol: 1. “Incendiary weapon” means any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or a combination thereof, produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target. (a) Incendiary weapons can take the form of, for example, flame throwers, fougasses, shells, rockets, grenades, mines, bombs and other containers of incendiary substances. (b) Incendiary weapons do not include: (i) Munitions which may have incidental incendiary effects, such as illuminants, tracers, smoke or signalling systems; (ii) Munitions designed to combine penetration, blast or fragmentation effects with an additional incendiary effect, such as armour-piercing projectiles, fragmentation shells, explosive bombs and similar combined-effects munitions in which the incendiary effect is not specifically designed to cause burn injury to persons, but to be used against military objectives, such as armoured vehicles, aircraft and installations or facilities. 2. “Concentration of civilians” means any concentration of civilians, be it permanent or temporary, such as in inhabited parts of cities, or inhabited towns or villages, or as in camps or columns of refugees or evacuees, or groups of nomads. 3. “Military objective” means, so far as objects are concerned, any object which by its nature, location, purpose or use makes an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage. 4. “Civilian objects” are all objects which are not military objectives as defined in paragraph 3. 5. “Feasible precautions” are those precautions which are practicable or practically possible taking into account all circumstances ruling at the time, including humanitarian and military considerations.

    Article 2 Protection of civilians and civilian objects 1.It is prohibited in all circumstances to make the civilian population as such, individual civilians or civilian objects the object of attack by incendiary weapons. 2 It is prohibited in all circumstances to make any military objective located within a concentration of civilians the object of attack by air-delivered incendiary weapons. 3. It is further prohibited to make any military objective located within a concentration of civilians the object of attack by means of incendiary weapons other than air-delivered incen- diary weapons, except when such military objective is clearly separated from the concentra- tion of civilians and all feasible precautions are taken with a view to limiting the incendiary effects to the military objective and to avoiding, and in any event to minimizing, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects. 4. It is prohibited to make forests or other kinds of plant cover the object of attack by incen- diary weapons except when such natural elements are used to cover, conceal or camouflage combatants or other military objectives, or are themselves military objectives. Entry into Force: 2 December 1983

    http://lawofwar.org/protocol_incendiary_weapons.htm

  • Can WP be defined as a ‘chemical weapon’ and can the US be criticised for using it intentionally or unintentionally where there are civilian masses?

    Under the CWC Chemical Weapons Convention(to which the US is a signatory)
    ARTICLE I
    1. Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never under any circumstances:

    (b) To use chemical weapons;

    ARTICLE II

    1. “Chemical Weapon” means

    (a) Toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for purposes not prohibited under this Convention, as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes;

    (b) Munitions and devices, specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those toxic chemicals specified in subparagraph (a), which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices;

    (c) Any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices specified in subparagraph (b).

    2. “Toxic Chemical” means:

    Any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere.

    (For the purpose of implementing this Convention, toxic chemicals which have been identified for the application of verification measures are listed in Schedules contained in the Annex on Chemicals.)


    It is clear that WP is a ‘Toxic Chemical’ that causes death or other harm to humans and animals and if you follow my name link you will see that it was used specifically on the City of Fallujah in the November of 2004. It was not used to illuminate a battle zone as stated by the Pentagon. As it is a Toxic Chemical that results in death or other harm, it could also be classed as a Chemical Weapon under the CWC.

    This reminds me of the usage of Chemical Weapons in the 80’s when it was alleged that Saddam Hussein gave the orders to attack rebels in Halabja without any care to the civilians living there. He is on trial for this which will probably end up with him getting the death penalty.

    The story in Fallujah is essentially the same except a far more terrible weapon was used, this time by the US, and there is an argument over a weapon’s classification.

    Civilians died on mass – This cannot be excused or pardoned.

  • Rest assured the corporate media, when and if they get around to reporting this at all, will spend plenty of time ignoring the legalities of this hideous action. Wrong is still wrong. Some laws are just, some are not. It is not my concern if it was a legal action or not. It is unacceptable on every level.

  • Impeach Your Evil President

    Using weapons that melt human flesh is a war crime by any definition regardless of the type of weapon used and whether or not it is illegal.

    I can’t find mention of this from any major news organization.

    What makes it weirder is that News.google.com is not showing it on the front page despite the mass coverage of this by independent news organizations.

    I have to wonder if Google News is simply an aggregator of pro American news, by design.

    So should Google be held legally liable for hiding the truth?

    CNN and all major news organizations did a great job promoting the war.

    But I am disturbed to see that even Google is supporting the status quo in the news reporting business.

  • FARHAT QUAEM MAQUAMI

    THANKSGIVING MASSACRE IN FALLUJAH: 1ST ANNIVERSARY

    FARHAT QUAEM MAQUAMI

    Although many War Crimes have been committed against the defenseless Muslim population of Iraq but none is comparable to the multiple massacres which occurred in the most beautiful historical city of Fallujah, which was obliterated in operation code named “Thanksgiving Massacre”. This is cursory report of the events from reporters outside the US corporate media which has become the megaphone for the US propaganda and cover-up.

    The US manufactured the phantom “Al Qaeda” which is the translation of the CIA “data Base” and fabricated an Islamic enemy which does not exist and is terrorizing the world under the guise of its Fake War on Terror. We have to expose these treacheries which has fooled the world into accepting these US factionary terrorist Action Figures so it may continue its horrendous crimes against humanity and blackmailing the legitimate Governments in the region.

    *****
    It has been about 20 years since I was last here and I am just looking forward to looking our boys in the eye and telling them what a great job they have done here.” (Donald Rumsfeld, The Butcher of FALLUJAH, Baghdad 2004)

    As Americans are celebrating their Thanksgiving Day they not only should remember the massacre of 700 Pequot Indians in 1637 , which is the benchmark of the rotten and bloodthirsty origin of Thanksgiving, but also separate themselves from their shameful past by condemning the “ Thanksgiving Massacre” of Fallujah.

    It is a historical fact that the American Troops used white phosphorus, and a Napalm substitute, MK77, banned by the United Nations, against a defenseless civilian population to obliterate the city of Fallujah, the heart of Sunni Triangle.
    This Massacre and many thereafter has not diminished the resolve of Iraqis to resist the occupation.

    It is the duty and responsibility of all Muslim brothers and sisters to tear apart the curtain of deceit and expose the crusaders In Iraq. Crusaders are against Islam not Shia or Sunni’s . “Thanksgiving Massacre of Fallujah” was meant to give a lesson in history that when in many Crusades innocent Muslims were murdered in cold blood.

    The massacre was committed in order to force Iraqis to accept the Illegal occupation of their country and accept the US PUPPETS as their legitimate rulers. In this 1st Anniversary of Fallujah Massacre it is HIGH TIME for all the good Americans to disassociate themselves from the ugly Americans in Bush Administration who designed, executed, and covered up what really happened in Fallujah and have forbidden any news out of this devastated city which was once the center of a civilized and pious population. This is the first anniversary of the massacre and our heart should bleed for over 380 thousands population of the City of one thousands Mosques.

    One year ago this month the US, with the support of the British, began its second major assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah (an attack originally codenamed “Thanksgiving Massacre”). This massive and unprecedented offensive devastated a city the size of Plymouth (the US State Department estimated 100% of the city’s housing was damaged to some degree) and killed many hundreds of civilians. British troops had been redeployed specially from southern Iraq to help form a “ring of steel” around the city.
    An earlier attack in April 2004 had killed at least 600 civilians. See Jo Wilding’s report of the siege. Report

    US forces committed major war crimes during the assaults including:
    warplanes, fighter bombers, military helicopters and gun ships were used to attack residential areas, killing many civilians
    a ‘shoot-to-kill curfew’ was imposed with ‘anyone spotted in the soldiers’ night vision sights…shot’ (Times, 12 Nov 04) and there were numerous press reports of US snipers firing on – and killing – unarmed civilians, including children
    several reports strongly suggested that US snipers targeted ambulances in Fallujah
    the city’s main hospital was closed by marines and a sniper was placed on top of the hospital’s water tower in violation of the Geneva Convention (Guardian, 24 April 04)
    U.S. forces blocked an aid convoy trying to enter Fallujah’s main hospital. The convoy turned back after three days. (Reuters, 15 Nov 2004).
    male refugees were prevented from leaving the combat zone (AP, 13 Nov 04)
    US forces were filmed killing an unarmed, wounded Iraqi (Guardian, 16 Nov 04)
    US warplanes dropped 3 bombs on the Central Health Centre clinic, killing 35 patients (including 5 children under the age of ten) and 24 medical staff (The Nation, 13 Dec 04)
    US forces used phosphorus weapons ‘that create a screen of fire that cannot be extinguished with water’ (Washington Post, 10 Nov 04).
    The November 2004 assault was trailed well in advance and generated a brief spurt of anti-war activity here in the UK. Reports
    Since then, however, media reports on Fallujah have been scarce as anyone who tries to document the massacre is intimidated, murdered or forced out of Iraq. The plight of the city’s inhabitants totaling 380 thousands civilians who fled the attack and have yet to return to their homes – appears to have been largely forgotten.

    Not long after the assault the US and Iraqi leaders declared that Fallujah would become a “model city”‘ (Boston Globe, 5 Dec) and have used daily intimidation, curfews, ID cards, Cornea scanning, repression, torture and detentions to recreate the city with no result.

    Meanwhile, further assaults during the past year on Iraqi cities including Qaim, Karabila and Tal Afar have killed over 100 thousands of Iraqis, wounded hundreds of thousands more and forced millions to be refugees in their own country. All these have happened with complicity of Corporate media which has produced fabricated and sanitized reports out of Iraq to sell the war to the gullible and conformist Americans who worry about their SUV’s and economic prosperity far more than thinking where their prosperity is coming from and how it is achieved by devastating others and destroying the earth.

    “Bodies melted away before us.”

    On Monday Nov. 7, 2005 Italian Satellite TV broadcasted Evidence of banned chemical weapons by the US military on Civilians in Fallujah and elsewhere in Iraq.
    Documentary evidence of the use by US troops of phosphorus and a new formulation of Napalm [MK77] on the Sunni civilian population was broadcasted on international satellite TV. Yet up to now no major News organization has broadcasted the Global coverage of the atrocity which appeared in la repubblica. It . Bush Administration is shamed before the eyes of the world not only for the massacre in Fallujah but to use banned Chemicals, white phosphorus, the real WMD, on civilians.

    Brave people of Iraq despite the many subterfuges of the US Forces to separate ,divide and antagonize them against each other are resisting the brutal invasion and occupation of their country while the United Nations has been forced into silence. Indeed the whole world is looking the other way while a small country of Iraq is being violated and subjected to the American bombardment, economic, cultural and psychological devastation.

    In this Thanks giving it is up to the Good Americans, whose representatives have been bribed or blackmailed by Israeli Lobby into silence or inaction, to separate themselves from the Ugly Americans who have massacred over 100,000 Iraqis, poisoned their land, violated their national integrity and have caused over 2000 young Americans die for the Christian Evangelists Crusade against Islam.

    Maybe it is high time to bring the troops home and face the reality of over 20,000 permanently disabled veterans and 100,000 young men whose has lost their soul in Iraq by rape, murder, torture of other human beings and would be returned home with permanent psychological damage and mental problems.

    It is also a great time to re-open not only the investigation on the fraud and treason which were committed by the Bush Administration into deceiving the US citizens to commit mass murder in the middle east, but also to open the 911 files.

    It is possible that a leadership which has lied about Iraq to its own citizenry , arranged, staged, organized, planned and executed 911 to justify its war on terror propaganda which was a prelude to their Project for the New American Century which sought to PERMANANTLY CONTROL the oil resources of the Middle East.

    The War on Terror should be waged against a government which is terrorizing the world not against Muslims or Middle Eastern Men who never attacked the US and never participated in the Implosion of WTC. Those who removed all evidence of explosives in the Core of the Steel structures and purposely shipped the contaminated soil and steel structure are the terrorist who attacked the US to get it into a war gear to justify the occupation of Iraq. The criminals must be prosecuted. Yet if after 4 years of torture, mass murder and incarceration of many who were accused we have not got one conviction, we have to look at criminals who got benefit for their criminal enterprise.

    The Criminals who pulled down WTC were not in Tora Bora and they were not certainly in Fallujah. They are the enemy within and hope in the spirit of Thanksgiving we stop looking outside to find the phantom enemy that the Gang of Corporate Evangelist fabricated. Al Quaida is a data base , a virtual adversary and not a criminal organization. Americans should be looking in the mirror to discover the reality of self-deception; otherwise, many more massacres would happen and many more Thanksgiving would be celebrated without aknowleging that the “sacrificial Turkey” represents the symbolic bloody massacres of our alleged adversaries..

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