Explosion of birth defects in Iraq

A sick Iraqi child at Falluja general hospital (Photograph: Muhannad Fala'ah/Getty Images)

For the past year and a half, the mainstream media, and most recently the blogs, have been reporting about the explosion of birth defects amongst children born in Fallujah in Iraq.

Sky News’s Lisa Holland writes:

There is no precise explanation as to what has caused the deformities and there are no figures to compare cases with those a decade or more ago as records were not kept during the time of Saddam Hussein.

All of our evidence is anecdotal, but repeatedly people tell us they believe the deformities must be linked to the heavy bombardment of Fallujah – a Sunni insurgent stronghold – by America in 2004.

People want an independent investigation into the impact of the kinds of weapons used – including controversial white phosphorus. [emphasis mine]

In addition to horrifically burning the skin, ingesting white phosphorous may cause liver, heart or kidney damage, according to the Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (PDF). The DoD denied using white phosphorous against “insurgents” until 2005 when the Pentagon admitted US forces used white phosphorous as “an incendiary weapon” during the assault on Fallujah in 2004.

In an interview with The Independent, Professor Paul Rodgers of the University of Bradford department of peace studies, said it probably would fall into the category of chemical weapons if it was used directly against people.

At the very least, there needs to be an independent investigation into these allegations.

The Guardian posted the following video segment on the Fallujah birth defects. The video begins with a prefaced warning that it contains some disturbing images. It’s true. The consequences of war are very disturbing, but this video should be required viewing for chickenhawks, or anyone confused about the real toll of violent conflict. It’s always the innocent who suffer while those who launch the war and the “bad guys,” hide in their ivory towers and caves. (h/t Siun from FDL)