IRAQ UPDATE
by Voices in the Wilderness American and British planes have been involved in several strikes against Iraq, including at least two that break with the standard pattern of no-fly-zone attacks. Most such attacks involve reactions to threats or perceived threats to the planes making the (illegal) overflights, but these were pre-planned attacks designed to "degrade" Iraq's air defense systems. The first, on August 10, involved 50 planes (20 attack and 30 support) attacking three different radar sites; the second was August 14.
These are the most substantial attacks on Iraq since Bush's inaugural strikes of February 16, and, according to US government sources, are part of a strategy to have a sustained campaign of bombing, a little bit at a time (http://www.msnbc.com/news/613702.asp). One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "Hitting targets one by one doesn't draw the same kind of attention or reaction. It takes longer, but it should eventually get the job done" -- the same kind of cynicism present in previous statements admitting that smart sanctions are more an attempt at spin control than at alleviating Iraqi suffering. Having exhausted previous justifications for aggression, the US government openly admits that it has attacked Iraq because Iraq is exercising its right to defend itself from foreign aircraft.
According to Stratfor, a private company composed mostly of ex-military officers that does intelligence analysis, the strategy of strikes to degrade the air defense of Iraq is a prelude to another Desert Fox-style bombing campaign (that involved over 400 cruise missiles, as well as conventional gravity bombs, and killed an estimated 1600 Iraqis, while damaging crucial infrastructure). If this occurs, the reason will almost surely be further development of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq, so any such reports will deserve scrutiny.
Our government is committing other abuses regarding Iraq. As mentioned previously, Voices in the Wilderness, the courageous group of activists who have done a tremendous amount to bring the sanctions to the attention of the American public, has been holding a 40-day fast outside the UN in New York. Entitled "Breaking the Ranks," it involves roughly 10 people who will do the whole 40 days, and many others for shorter periods. The fasters declared that they would break their fast if UN delegates would share a meal of rice and lentils (staple food in Iraq) with them. On August 15 and 22, fasters approached the building with rice and lentils, and were arrested by the police for criminal trespass. Twelve were arrested the first time, and ten on Wednesday. Arrestees include Rev. Daniel Berrigan, Rev. Simon Harak, SJ, and Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices. For up-to-date information, visit <www.vitw.org.>
Finally, some of you may know of Georgetown University Professor Thomas Nagy's discovery last year of a US Defense Intelligence Agency document from the Gulf War entitled "Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities," which evaluated the effects destruction of Iraq's water treatment system would have on the country, and how sanctions would continue those effects -- "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." Professor Nagy has unearthed further documents that, he says, prove "beyond a doubt that, contrary to the Geneva Convention, the U.S. government intentionally used sanctions against Iraq to degrade the country's water supply after the Gulf War." His article in the Progressive provoked Representative Cynthia McKinney, to tell a House hearing that "attacking the Iraqi public drinking water supply flagrantly targets civilians and is a violation of the Geneva Convention and of the fundamental laws of civilized nations." The initial reports last year of this war crime drew virtually no media attention.
-- http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/