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Weren't the weapons conventional?
Is this lead - from the weapons, or whatever else was pushed into the River, or both?
Disturbing story of Fallujah's birth defects
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8548961.stm
Six years after the intense fighting began in the Iraqi town of Fallujah between US forces and Sunni insurgents, there is a disturbingly large number of cases of birth defects in the town.
Fallujah is less than 40 miles (65km) from Baghdad, but it can still be dangerous to get to.
As a result, there has been no authoritative medical investigation, certainly by any Western team, into the allegations that the weapons used by the Americans are still causing serious problems.
The Iraqi government line is that there are only one or two extra cases of birth defects per year in Fallujah, compared with the national average.
'Daily cases'
But in the impressive new Fallujah General Hospital, built with American aid, we found a paediatric specialist, Dr Samira al-Ani, who told us that she saw two or three new cases every day.
Most of them, she said, exhibited cardiac problems.
I have nothing do ented. But I can tell you that year by year the number [is] increasing
Dr Samira al-Ani
Fallujah General Hospital
When asked what the cause was, she said: "I am a doctor. I have to be scientific in my talk. I have nothing do ented. But I can tell you that year by year, the number [is] increasing."
The specialist, like other medical staff at the hospital, seemed nervous about talking too openly about the problem.
They were well aware that what they said went against the government version, and we were told privately that the Iraqi authorities are anxious not to embarrass the Americans over the issue.
There are no official figures for the incidence of birth defects in Fallujah.
The US military authorities are absolutely correct when they say they are not aware of any official reports indicating an increase in birth defects in Fallujah - no official reports exist.
Mothers warned
But it is impossible, as a visitor, not to be struck by the terrible number of cases of birth defects there.
We heard many times that officials in Fallujah had warned women that they should not have children.
We went to a clinic for the disabled, and were given details of dozens upon dozens of cases of children with serious birth defects.
Dozens of children were being treated at a clinic for the disabled
One photograph I saw showed a newborn baby with three heads.
While we were at the clinic, people kept arriving with children who were suffering major problems - a little girl with only one arm, several children who were paralysed, and another girl with a spinal condition so bad I asked my cameraman not to film her.
At the clinic we were told that the worst problems were to be found in the neighbourhood of al-Julan, near the river.
This was the heart of the resistance to the Americans during the two major offensives of April and September 2004, and was hit constantly by bombs and s s.
River water
We went to a house where three children, all under six, were suffering from birth defects.
Two boys were partially paralysed, and their sister clearly had serious brain damage.
Like all the other parents we spoke to, their mother had no doubt that the American attacks were responsible.
Outside, a man who had heard we were there had brought his four-year-old daughter to show us. She had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot.
She was also suffering from a number of other serious health problems. The father told us that the house where they still lived had been hit by an American s during the fighting in 2004.
There may well be a link with drinking-water, especially in al-Julan.
After the fighting was over, the rubble from the town was bulldozed into the river bank, and most people in this area get their water from the river.
The true causes of the problem, and the question of the effects of the weapons the Americans used, can be resolved only by a proper independent inquiry by medical experts.
And until the security situation in and around Fallujah improves, it will be difficult to carry that out.
Weren't the weapons conventional?
Is this lead - from the weapons, or whatever else was pushed into the River, or both?
freedom ain't free.
freedom lead!
I'm not going to fully buy this until statistics come out. As 101A pointed out, the arms that the US is using are conventional. (As far as we know, of course, but I'm leaving out conspiracy theories for the moment).
you.
I'm concerned about this, and simply asking questions. If this is true, and our weapons caused this (which, obviously, they might have) - I assume we didn't know they would, and can use the information to make changes to what weapons we use in the future - and where.
US was also using depleted uranium in Iraq.
screwed up babies in Iraqi war zones way above the averages is not news.
btw, people are still being screwed up with genetic defects, cancers, etc, etc in Viet Nam.
VN vets with agent orange exposure get prostate cancer sooner than average and a more aggressive cancer.
and then are the US military who are sick as dogs from KBR, etc burning all kinds of nasty in Iraq in burn pits next to the bases.
America, Winning Hearts and Minds (and destroying bodies) All Around The Planet.
poor baby. i'm just embracing my redneck. it wasn't an attack on your wittle feewings.
you would automatically assume that, huh?I'm concerned about this, and simply asking questions. If this is true, and our weapons caused this (which, obviously, they might have) - I assume we didn't know they would
oh, so you expect the military complex to accept what might turn into negligence suits?and can use the information to make changes to what weapons we use in the future - and where.
poor baby.
I think they are going back to wanting to blame this on the Depleted Uranium rounds. Thing is, we don't know how many chemicals lying around may have been atomized as well. I'm far from an expert here, but I don't see how depleted uranium would transfer through the placenta to cause defects. It is pulverized, but not reduced to the molecular level.
It really isn't THAT complicated to just take some water from the river on a container, seal it, and then take it with you to a lab somewhere else (Turkey?) to study the composition, and see if the story carries any weight...
There could be a lot of reasons for a contaminated river. One other theory would be mercury contamination from all the town rubble that went in there.
Fallujah is the only larger city that has little irrigation. It is highly possible that the problems stem from natural chemistry in the sand, and the bombings may have exasperated the problem.
Like you say, samples are the key. I would assume that samples have been taken, but they cannot link the US as the cause. Seems to me that if there were any cir stantial evidence to it being caused by us, the liberal media would be all over it.
Dr Samira al-Ani
Fallujah General Hospital
When asked what the cause was, she said: "I am a doctor. I have to be scientific in my talk. I have nothing do ented. But I can tell you that year by year, the number [is] increasing."
The specialist, like other medical staff at the hospital, seemed nervous about talking too openly about the problem.
They were well aware that what they said went against the government version, and we were told privately that the Iraqi authorities are anxious not to embarrass the Americans over the issue.
Yes, I know ClamBoy...
It must be true since it's on the internet...
can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs
maybe they died from karma.
will burn hotter each time a Bush voter arrives. I hope the guilty are looking forward to it.
Incidents of war (urban rubble, per ElNono). Depleted uranium (clambake, b_d).
Like ElNono said, it ought to be easy in principle to suss out the environmental factors if they have the ganas.
don't forget karma, winehole23.
No, why would you think that?
Wow... You get stupider with each posting.
It appears you are saying that if the allegation of the posting on the internet isn't true, it is as likely to be karma, right? I know you aren't refering to my Karma remark, because that was a question.
Wait...
Silly me, you are that stupid!
Yes, I agree.
Let's see the results of the tests.
I wasn't aware any tests were being done.
learn to live with it. you will never escape it.
I know. I'll never escape the fact that you are so stupid in interpreting my remarks. I'm just afraid I'll die laughing.
I never did.
I was always against that war. Before it ever started.
Ooops...
I phrased that wrong. I don't know of any either, and I find it so.... so... lib ed that these allegation fly with no such evaluations.
Well according to Bush and Company they are better off today than they were prior to our democracy invasion!
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