http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E8C356F9-E89F-4CD3-88B5-BBBDF9E085C1.htm
Iraq's real WMD crime
By Lawrence Smallman
Thursday 30 October 2003, 9:55 Makka Time, 6:55 GMT
Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.7 billion years – that means
thousands upon thousands of Iraqi children will suffer
There are weapons of mass destruction all over Iraq and they were used
this year. Iraqi children continue to find them every day.
They have ruined the lives of just under 300,000 people during the
last decade - and numbers will increase.
The reason is simple. Two hundred tonnes of radioactive material were
fired by invading US forces into buildings, homes, streets and gardens
all over Baghdad.
The material in question is depleted uranium (DU). Left over after
natural uranium has been enriched, DU is 1.7 times denser than lead -
effective in penetrating armoured objects such as tanks.
After a DU-coated shell strikes, it goes straight through before
exploding into a burning vapour which turns to dust.
"Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.7 billion years – that means
thousands upon thousands of Iraqi children will suffer for tens of
thousands of years to come. This is what I call terrorism," says Dr
Ahmad Hardan.
As a special scientific advisor to the World Health Organisation, the
United Nations and the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Dr Hardan is the man
who documented the effects of depleted uranium in Iraq between 1991
and 2002.
But this year's invasion and occupation has doubled his workload.
Terrible history repeated
"American forces admit to using over 300 tonnes of depleted uranium
weapons in 1991. The actual figure is closer to 800.
"This has caused a health crisis that has affected almost a third of a
million people"
Dr Ahmad Hardan,
scientific advisor to the World Health Organisation
"This has caused a health crisis that has affected almost a third of a
million people. As if that was not enough, America went on and used
200 tonnes more in Baghdad alone this April. I don't know about other
parts of Iraq, it will take me years to document that."
Hardan is particularly angry because he says there is no need for this
type of weapon – US conventional weapons are quite capable of
destroying tanks and buildings.
"In Basra, it took us two years to obtain conclusive proof of what DU
does, but we now know what to look for and the results are
terrifying."
Leukaemia has already become the most common type of cancer in Iraq
among all age groups, but is most prevalent in the under-15s. It has
increased way above the percentage of population growth in every
single province of Iraq without exception.
Women as young as 35 are developing breast cancer. Sterility amongst
men has increased ten-fold.
Barely human
But by far the most devastating effect is on unborn children. Nothing
can prepare anyone for the sight of hundreds of preserved foetuses –
barely human in appearance.
Depleted uranium has caused
severe deformities in babies
There is no doubt that DU is to blame.
"All children with congenital anomalies are subjected to karyotyping
and chromosomal studies with complete genetic back-grounding and
clinical assessment. Family and obstetrical histories are taken too.
These international studies have produced ample evidence to show that
DU has disastrous consequences."
Not only are there 200 tonnes of uranium lying around in Baghdad, the
containers which carried the ammunition were discarded. For months
afterwards, many used them to carry water – others used them to sell
milk publicly.
It is already too late to reverse the effects.
After his experience in Basra, Hardan says that within the next two
years he expects to see significant rises in congenital cataracts,
anopthalmia, microphthalmia, corneal opacities and coloboma of the
iris – and that's just in people’s eyes.
Add to this foetal deformities, sterility in both sexes, an increase
in miscarriages and premature births, congenital malformations,
additional abnormal organs, hydrocephaly, anencephaly and delayed
growth.
Soaring cancer rates
"I had hoped the lessons of using DU would have been learnt –
especially as it is affecting American and British troops stationed in
Iraq as we speak, they are not immune to its effects either."
Many affected foetuses are so
deformed they cannot survive
If the experience of Basra is played out in the rest of the country,
Iraq is looking at an increase of over 300% in all types of cancer
over the next decade.
The signs are already here in Baghdad - the effects are starting to be
seen. Every form of cancer has jumped up at least 10% with the
exception of bone tumours and skin cancer, which have only reason 2.6%
and 9.3% respectively.
Another tragic outcome is the delayed growth of children.
Skeletal age comparisons between boys from southern Iraq and boys from
Michigan show Iraqi males are 26 months behind in their development by
the time they are 12-years-old, and girls are almost half a year
behind.
"The effects of ionising radiation on growth and development are
especially significant in the prenatal child", adds Dr Hardan.
"Embryonic development is especially affected."
Action needed
Those who have seen the effects of DU hope the US and its allies will
never use these weapons again – but it seems no such decision is
likely in the foreseeable future.
"A world famous German cancer specialist agreed to come, only to be
told later that he would not be given permission to enter Iraq"
Dr Ahmad Hardan,
scientific advisor to the World Health Organisation
"I arranged for a delegation from Japan's Hiroshima hospital to come
and share their expertise in the radiological related diseases we are
likely to face over time,” says Hardan. “The delegation told me the
Americans had objected and they had decided not to come.
"Similarly, a world famous German cancer specialist agreed to come,
only to be told later that he would not be given permission to enter
Iraq."
Secondly, Hardan believes, the authorities need to produce precise
information about what was used and where, and there needs to be a
clean-up operation and centres for specialist cancer treatment and
radiation-related illnesses.
Iraq only has two hospitals that specialise in DU-related illnesses,
one in Basra and one in Mawsil – this needs to change and soon.
"I'm fed up of delegations coming and weeping as I show them children
dying before their eyes. I want action and not emotion. The crime has
been committed and documented – but we must act now to save our
children's future."
"life is like a mushroom, they feed you ***** and keep you in the dark"
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