| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"david ford" |
| Date: |
17 Dec 2004 05:40:49 PM |
| Object: |
Re: The killing machine that is Marxism |
Chris Thompson wrote:
"Uncle Davey" <noway@jose.com> wrote in news:cprhh4$1dl$0@pita.alt.net:
Użytkownik "Crusader" <yxz@white.com> napisał w wiadomości news:RDawd.82737$fY.31263@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
The killing machine that is Marxism
Posted: December 15, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By R.J. Rummel
Š 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
With the fall of the Soviet Union and communist governments in
Eastern Europe, too many have the impression that Marxism, the
religion of communism, is dead. Hardly. It is alive and well in many
countries still, such as North Korea, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, a
gaggle of African countries, and in the minds of many South American
political leaders. However, of most importance to the future of
democracy, communism still pollutes the thinking of a vast multitude
of Western academics and intellectuals.
Of all religions, secular and otherwise, that of Marxism has been by
far the
bloodiest - bloodier than the Catholic Inquisition, the various
Catholic crusades, and the Thirty Years War between Catholics and
Protestants. >>
[snip]
I just wanted to read that excellent article again.
Davey,
I'm no fan of Marxism, but doesn't the phrase "Of all religions, secular
and otherwise..." make your head hurt?
Not mine.
Koster: scientific atheism is an idea whose time is gone
http://groups.google.co.in/groups?selm=b1c67abe.0406212033.90a39c1%40posting.google.com
http://groups.google.co.in/groups?selm=b1c67abe.0406230445.7cff0545%40posting.google.com
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| User: "Earle Jones" |
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| Title: Re: The killing machine that is Marxism |
19 Dec 2004 07:32:30 PM |
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In article <dford3-32ha4hF3j6rg7U1@individual.net>,
david ford <dford3@gl.umbc.edu> wrote:
Chris Thompson wrote:
"Uncle Davey" <noway@jose.com> wrote in news:cprhh4$1dl$0@pita.alt.net:
U?ytkownik "Crusader" <yxz@white.com> napisa" w wiadomo?ci
news:RDawd.82737$fY.31263@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
The killing machine that is Marxism
Posted: December 15, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By R.J. Rummel
(C) 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
With the fall of the Soviet Union and communist governments in
Eastern Europe, too many have the impression that Marxism, the
religion of communism, is dead. Hardly. It is alive and well in many
countries still, such as North Korea, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, a
gaggle of African countries, and in the minds of many South American
political leaders. However, of most importance to the future of
democracy, communism still pollutes the thinking of a vast multitude
of Western academics and intellectuals.
Of all religions, secular and otherwise, that of Marxism has been by
far the
bloodiest - bloodier than the Catholic Inquisition, the various
Catholic crusades, and the Thirty Years War between Catholics and
Protestants. >>
[snip]
I just wanted to read that excellent article again.
Davey,
I'm no fan of Marxism, but doesn't the phrase "Of all religions, secular
and otherwise..." make your head hurt?
Not mine.
*
Not surprised.
earle
*
.
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| User: "wbarwell" |
|
| Title: Re: The killing machine that is Marxism |
17 Dec 2004 09:39:59 PM |
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david ford wrote:
Chris Thompson wrote:
"Uncle Davey" <noway@jose.com> wrote in news:cprhh4$1dl$0@pita.alt.net:
Użytkownik "Crusader" <yxz@white.com> napisał w wiadomości
news:RDawd.82737$fY.31263@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
The killing machine that is American right wing christianity.
http://www.progressive.org/0801issue/nagy0901.html
The Secret Behind the Sanctions
How the U.S. Intentionally Destroyed Iraq's Water Supply
by Thomas J. Nagy
Over the last two years, I've discovered documents of the
Defense Intelligence Agency proving 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. The United
States knew the cost that civilian Iraqis, mostly children,
would pay, and it went ahead anyway.
The primary document, "Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities,"
is dated January 22, 1991. It spells out how sanctions will
prevent Iraq from supplying clean water to its citizens.
"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," the document
states. "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."
The document goes into great technical detail about the sources
and quality of Iraq's water supply. The quality of untreated
water "generally is poor," and drinking such water "could
result in diarrhea," the document says. It notes that Iraq's
rivers "contain biological materials, pollutants, and are
laden with bacteria. Unless the water is purified with chlorine,
epidemics of such diseases as cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid
could occur."
The document notes that the importation of chlorine "has been
embargoed" by sanctions. "Recent reports indicate the chlorine
supply is critically low."
Food and medicine will also be affected, the document states.
"Food processing, electronic, and, particularly, pharmaceutical
plants require extremely pure water that is free from biological
contaminants," it says.
The document addresses possible Iraqi countermeasures to obtain
drinkable water despite sanctions.
"Iraq conceivably could truck water from the mountain reservoirs
to urban areas. But the capability to gain significant quantities
is extremely limited," the document states. "The amount of pipe on
hand and the lack of pumping stations would limit laying pipelines
to these reservoirs. Moreover, without chlorine purification, the
water still would contain biological pollutants. Some affluent
Iraqis could obtain their own minimally adequate supply of good
quality water from Northern Iraqi sources. If boiled, the water
could be safely consumed. Poorer Iraqis and industries requiring
large quantities of pure water would not be able to meet their needs."
The document also discounted the possibility of Iraqis using rainwater.
"Precipitation occurs in Iraq during the winter and spring, but
it falls primarily in the northern mountains," it says. "Sporadic
rains, sometimes heavy, fall over the lower plains. But Iraq could
not rely on rain to provide adequate pure water."
As an alternative, "Iraq could try convincing the United Nations or
individual countries to exempt water treatment supplies from sanctions
for humanitarian reasons," the document says. "It probably also is
attempting to purchase supplies by using some sympathetic countries
as fronts. If such attempts fail, Iraqi alternatives are not adequate
for their national requirements."
In cold language, the document spells out what is in store: "Iraq
will suffer increasing shortages of purified water because of the
lack of required chemicals and desalination membranes. Incidences of
disease, including possible epidemics, will become probable unless
the population were careful to boil water."
The document gives a timetable for the destruction of Iraq's water
supplies. "Iraq's overall water treatment capability will suffer a
slow decline, rather than a precipitous halt," it says. "Although
Iraq is already experiencing a loss of water treatment capability,
it probably will take at least six months (to June 1991) before the
system is fully degraded."
This document, which was partially declassified but unpublicized in 1995,
can be found on the Pentagon's web site at www.gulflink.osd.mil.
(I disclosed this document last fall. But the news media showed little
interest in it. The only reporters I know of who wrote lengthy stories
on it were Felicity Arbuthnot in the Sunday Herald of Scotland, who broke
the story, and Charlie Reese of the Orlando Sentinel, who did a follow-up.)
Recently, I have come across other DIA documents that confirm the Pentagon's
monitoring of the degradation of Iraq's water supply. These documents have
not been publicized until now.
The first one in this batch is called "Disease Information," and is also
dated January 22, 1991. At the top, it says, "Subject: Effects of Bombing
on Disease Occurrence in Baghdad." The analysis is blunt: "Increased
incidence of diseases will be attributable to degradation of normal
preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification/ distribution,
electricity, and decreased ability to control disease outbreaks. Any
urban area in Iraq that has received infrastructure damage will have
similar problems."
The document proceeds to itemize the likely outbreaks. It mentions "acute
diarrhea" brought on by bacteria such as E. coli, shigella, and salmonella,
or by protozoa such as giardia, which will affect "particularly children,"
or by rotavirus, which will also affect "particularly children," a phrase
it puts in parentheses. And it cites the possibilities of typhoid and
cholera
outbreaks.
The document warns that the Iraqi government may "blame the United States
for public health problems created by the military conflict."
The second DIA document, "Disease Outbreaks in Iraq," is dated February 21,
1990, but the year is clearly a typo and should be 1991. It states:
"Conditions
are favorable for communicable disease outbreaks, particularly in major
urban areas affected by coalition bombing." It adds: "Infectious disease
prevalence in major Iraqi urban areas targeted by coalition bombing
(Baghdad,
Basrah) undoubtedly has increased since the beginning of Desert Storm. . . .
Current public health problems are attributable to the reduction of normal
preventive medicine, waste disposal, water purification and distribution,
electricity, and the decreased ability to control disease outbreaks."
This document lists the "most likely diseases during next sixty-ninety days
(descending order): diarrheal diseases (particularly children); acute
respiratory illnesses (colds and influenza); typhoid; hepatitis A
(particularly
children); measles, diphtheria, and pertussis (particularly children);
meningitis, including meningococcal (particularly children); cholera
(possible,
but less likely)."
Like the previous document, this one warns that the Iraqi government might
"propagandize increases of endemic diseases."
The third document in this series, "Medical Problems in Iraq," is dated
March
15, 1991. It says: "Communicable diseases in Baghdad are more widespread
than
usually observed during this time of the year and are linked to the poor
sanitary conditions (contaminated water supplies and improper sewage
disposal)
resulting from the war. According to a United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF)/World Health Organization report, the quantity of potable water is
less than 5 percent of the original supply, there are no operational water
and
sewage treatment plants, and the reported incidence of diarrhea is four
times
above normal levels. Additionally, respiratory infections are on the rise.
Children particularly have been affected by these diseases."
Perhaps to put a gloss on things, the document states, "There are
indications
that the situation is improving and that the population is coping with the
degraded conditions." But it adds: "Conditions in Baghdad remain favorable
for
communicable disease outbreaks."
The fourth document, "Status of Disease at Refugee Camps," is dated May
1991.
The summary says, "Cholera and measles have emerged at refugee camps.
Further
infectious diseases will spread due to inadequate water treatment and poor
sanitation."
The reason for this outbreak is clearly stated again. "The main causes of
infectious diseases, particularly diarrhea, dysentery, and upper respiratory
problems, are poor sanitation and unclean water. These diseases primarily
afflict the old and young children."
The fifth document, "Health Conditions in Iraq, June 1991," is still heavily
censored. All I can make out is that the DIA sent a source "to assess health
conditions and determine the most critical medical needs of Iraq. Source
observed that Iraqi medical system was in considerable disarray, medical
facilities had been extensively looted, and almost all medicines were in
critically short supply."
In one refugee camp, the document says, "at least 80 percent of the
population"
has diarrhea. At this same camp, named Cukurca, "cholera, hepatitis type B,
and
measles have broken out."
The protein deficiency disease kwashiorkor was observed in Iraq "for the
first
time," the document adds. "Gastroenteritis was killing children. . . . In
the
south, 80 percent of the deaths were children (with the exception of Al
Amarah,
where 60 percent of deaths were children)."
The final document is "Iraq: Assessment of Current Health Threats and
Capabilities," and it is dated November 15, 1991. This one has a distinct
damage-control feel to it. Here is how it begins: "Restoration of Iraq's
public
health services and shortages of major medical materiel remain dominant
international concerns. Both issues apparently are being exploited by Saddam
Hussein in an effort to keep public opinion firmly against the U.S. and its
Coalition allies and to direct blame away from the Iraqi government."
It minimizes the extent of the damage. "Although current countrywide
infectious
disease incidence in Iraq is higher than it was before the Gulf War, it is
not
at the catastrophic levels that some groups predicted. The Iraqi regime will
continue to exploit disease incidence data for its own political purposes."
And it places the blame squarely on Saddam Hussein. "Iraq's medical supply
shortages are the result of the central government's stockpiling, selective
distribution, and exploitation of domestic and international relief medical
resources." It adds: "Resumption of public health programs . . . depends
completely on the Iraqi government."
As these documents illustrate, the United States knew sanctions had the
capacity
to devastate the water treatment system of Iraq. It knew what the
consequences
would be: increased outbreaks of disease and high rates of child mortality.
And
it was more concerned about the public relations nightmare for Washington
than
the actual nightmare that the sanctions created for innocent Iraqis.
The Geneva Convention is absolutely clear. In a 1979 protocol relating to
the
"protection of victims of international armed conflicts," Article 54, it
states: "It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove, or render useless
objects
indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as
foodstuffs,
crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies, and irrigation
works, for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value
to
the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive,
whether
in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any
other
motive."
But that is precisely what the U.S. government did, with malice
aforethought. It
"destroyed, removed, or rendered useless" Iraq's "drinking water
installations
and supplies." The sanctions, imposed for a decade largely at the
insistence of
the United States, constitute a violation of the Geneva Convention. They
amount
to a systematic effort to, in the DIA's own words, "fully degrade" Iraq's
water
sources.
At a House hearing on June 7, Representative Cynthia McKinney, Democrat of
Georgia, referred to the document "Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities" and
said: "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."
Over the last decade, Washington extended the toll by continuing to withhold
approval for Iraq to import the few chemicals and items of equipment it
needed
in order to clean up its water supply.
Last summer, Representative Tony Hall, Democrat of Ohio, wrote to
then-Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright "about the profound effects of the increasing
deterioration of Iraq's water supply and sanitation systems on its
children's
health." Hall wrote, "The prime killer of children under five years of
age--diarrheal diseases--has reached epidemic proportions, and they now
strike
four times more often than they did in 1990. . . . Holds on contracts for
the
water and sanitation sector are a prime reason for the increases in sickness
and death. Of the eighteen contracts, all but one hold was placed by the
U.S.
government. The contracts are for purification chemicals, chlorinators,
chemical dosing pumps, water tankers, and other equipment. . . . I urge you
to
weigh your decision against the disease and death that are the unavoidable
result of not having safe drinking water and minimum levels of sanitation."
For more than ten years, the United States has deliberately pursued a
policy of
destroying the water treatment system of Iraq, knowing full well the cost in
Iraqi lives. The United Nations has estimated that more than 500,000 Iraqi
children have died as a result of sanctions, and that 5,000 Iraqi children
continue to die every month for this reason.
No one can say that the United States didn't know what it was doing.
See for Yourself
All the DIA documents mentioned in this article were found at the
Department of
Defense's Gulflink site.
To read or print documents:
1.go to www.gulflink.osd.mil
2.click on "Declassified Documents" on the left side of the front page
3.the next page is entitled "Browse Recently Declassified Documents"
4.click on "search" under "Declassifed Documents" on the left side of that
page
5.the next page is entitled "Search Recently Declassified Documents"
6.enter search terms such as "disease information effects of bombing"
7.click on the search button
8.the next page is entitled "Data Sources"
9.click on DIA
10.click on one of the titles
Its not the best-organized site on the Internet, but I have found
the folks at Gulflink to be helpful and responsive.
Thomas J. Nagy
Thomas J. Nagy teaches at the School of Business and Public Management
at George Washington University.
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