The Iraq Hidden Tragedy



In several previous posts, references were made to the negative impacts on children’s health conditions as a result of the use of chemical weapons by American troops in Iraq during the last seven years (2003-2010). In an article written by Charles Glass (Taki’s Magazine 3/25/2010), elaborating on a report by BBC, BBC correspondent John Simpson reported that, “The number of defects in newborn babies in the Iraqi town of Fallujah had risen dramatically since the American assault there at the end of 2004.” Furthermore, Mr. Simpson interviewed Dr. Samira al-Ani, a pediatrician at Fallujah’s General Hospital, who said that two or three children were born daily with serious cardiac problems. However, there have not been any studies done on the impact of the use of chemicals during the war on children, according to Mr. Simpson. He said that American spokesmen were reluctantly forced to admit that use of “white phosphorous” or “white pete” as the troops call it in Fallujah. Mr. Simpson also referred to Field Artillery Magazine, a U.S. Army publication, which had documented in its March/April 2005 edition that white phosphorous was used in Fallujah during the battle in 2004. The U.S. government does not want it known that it was using chemicals on human beings in a country whose leader it overthrew ostensibly because he retained the capacity to do the same thing (Charles Glass, Taki’s Magazine 2009).



Many people who were following the U.S. news can recall officials in the Bush administration stating that Saddam Hussein was a ruthless leader who used chemicals and poison gas against his own people and that he needed to be removed.



It is not unusual for American politicians to use a double standard to justify their own actions and condemn others for doing the same evil things. The Bush administration should be held responsible for the atrocity of the Iraqi War.