It may be NY Time to Shake and Bake the Chickenhawks...

The New York Times - Editorial

Shake and Bake

Published: November 29, 2005

Let us pause and count the ways the conduct of the war in Iraq has damaged America's image and needlessly endangered the lives of those in the military. First, multilateralism was tossed aside. Then the post-invasion fiasco muddied the reputation of military planners and caused unnecessary casualties. The W.M.D. myth undermined the credibility of United States intelligence and President Bush himself, and the abuse of prisoners stole America's moral high ground.

Now the use of a ghastly weapon called white phosphorus has raised questions about how careful the military has been in avoiding civilian casualties. It has also further tarnished America's credibility on international treaties and the rules of warfare.

White phosphorus, which dates to World War II, should have been banned generations ago. Packed into an artillery shell, it explodes over a battlefield in a white glare that can illuminate an enemy's positions. It also rains balls of flaming chemicals, which cling to anything they touch and burn until their oxygen supply is cut off. They can burn for hours inside a human body.

The United States restricted the use of incendiaries like white phosphorus after Vietnam, and in 1983, an international convention banned its use against civilians. In fact, one of the many crimes ascribed to Saddam Hussein was dropping white phosphorus on Kurdish rebels and civilians in 1991.

But white phosphorus has made an ugly comeback. Italian television reported that American forces used it in Falluja last year against insurgents. At first, the Pentagon said the chemical had been used only to illuminate the battlefield, but had to backpedal when it turned out that one of the Army's own publications talked about using white phosphorus against insurgent positions, a practice well known enough to have one of those unsettling military nicknames: "shake and bake."

The Pentagon says white phosphorus was never aimed at civilians, but there are lingering reports of civilian victims. The military can't say whether the reports are true and does not intend to investigate them, a decision we find difficult to comprehend. Pentagon spokesmen say the Army took "extraordinary measures" to reduce civilian casualties, but they cannot say what those measures were.

They also say that using white phosphorus against military targets is legal. That's true, but the 1983 convention bans its use against "civilians or civilian objects," which would make white phosphorus attacks in urban settings like Falluja highly inappropriate at best. The United States signed that convention, but the portion dealing with incendiary weapons has been awaiting ratification in the Senate.

These are technicalities, in any case. Iraq, where winning over wary civilians is as critical as defeating armed insurgents, is no place to be using a weapon like this. More broadly, American demands for counterproliferation efforts and international arms control ring a bit hollow when the United States refuses to give up white phosphorus, not to mention cluster bombs and land mines.

The United States should be leading the world, not dragging its feet, when it comes to this sort of issue - because it's right and because all of us, including Americans, are safer in a world in which certain forms of conduct are regarded as too inhumane even for war. That is why torture should be banned in American prisons. And it is why the United States should stop using white phosphorus.

SOURCE - http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/29/opinion/29tue1.html







Iraq War Casualty Pictures

Last updated 2005-11-24 by Roedy Green : ©1996-2005 Canadian Mind Products

These photos show the tip of the iceberg of the suffering of both Americans and Iraqis in the Iraq war. This is considered collateral damage in a $20 trillion oil heist of the #2 oil reserves on the planet, callously masquerading as a compassionate regime change. The occupation and slaughter carries on without an official reason now that Saddam is captured. That the Iraqis resist occupation now seems justification enough for Bush. It may sound strange, but to Bush, the following images are erotically stimulating. Note I am not saying who in particular caused any of these injuries, just that this is the sort of suffering happening to both sides as the result of the war.

SOURCE - http://mindprod.com/politics/iraqwarpix.html

Fallujah white phosphorus chemical weapon victims

Eugene Jarecki – Why We Fight

What are the forces that shape and propel American militarism? This award-winning film provides an inside look at the anatomy of the American war machine. Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd & intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.

AWESOME SOURCE - http://www.thedossier.ukonline.co.uk/video_iraqwar.htm







Click on the links below to view - some may take a while to start, be patient



Iraq War



IRAQ the reckoning.

Dispatches – Iraq: The Reckoning

Peter Oborne reports on the West's exit strategy for Iraq. He believes the invasion of Iraq is proving to be the greatest foreign policy failure since Munich. Oborne argues that the plan to transform Iraq into a unified liberal democracy, a beacon of hope in the Middle East, is pure fantasy

stream

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Cold War, Dirty Science.

BBC – Cold War, Dirty Science

In the decade following the Second World War, British scientists planned not for peace but for war which would be fought with chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Recent revelations expose the dangerous, top secret tests at Porton Down which put the British public at risk, and even killed an unwitting volunteer soldier

stream

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download

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Blair v Blair.

BBC Panorama – Blair v Blair

This programme examines the Govt's plans for new laws to counter the terrorist threat, following the London bombings and asks whether we need new legislation; questions how it will make us safer, and assesses the cost in terms of civil liberties

stream

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click here for related article

Fox News – Interview with John Loftus

Former US Justice Dept Prosecutor John Loftus, reveals that a London 7/7 terror suspect appears to be linked with British Intelligence

stream/download

windows media player





Hot Spots IRAN.

BBC Four – Hot Spots: Iran

The US-backed coup of 1953, the hostage crisis in 1979, and the recent nuclear stand-off have all contributed to a mistrust between Iran and the US. Can they ever make up?

stream

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Tony Blair.

BBC Newsnight & Question Time – Blair interviews

Watch Tony Blair sweat as Jeremy Paxman and the British public question him over the Iraq war

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ITV Granada – Ask Tony Blair

More grilling of Blair by the public over Iraq

stream

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military-industrial complex

Eugene Jarecki – Why We Fight

What are the forces that shape and propel American militarism? This award-winning film provides an inside look at the anatomy of the American war machine. Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd & intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions

stream

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download

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seven minute promo

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"I blatantly lied to the British people"

BBC Panorama – Iraq, Tony & the truth

Reveals how several of the claims made in public by Blair during the build up to the war - and afterwards - conflict with what we now know was going on behind the scenes, as evidenced for instance by government officials and documents

stream

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download

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click here to see the 'secret iraqi oil plans'

BBC Newsnight – Secret US plans for Iraq's oil

Greg Palast reveals how the Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq's oil before the 9/11 attacks, sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil

stream

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The Government Inspector.

Peter Kosminsky – The Government Inspector

A drama based on extensive original research (although fails to include all the facts) that tells the story of the late Dr David Kelly, an expert caught in the crossfire between the British government and the BBC over the war in Iraq. Kelly was one of the govt's foremost experts on WMD. The Drama depicts his time as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq in the 1990s and through the frenetic weeks and months in which the Blair govt attempted to persuade a doubtful nation of its case for war

stream

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Promises & Betrayals.

The History Channel – Promises and Betrayals

Documentary on how British double-dealing during WWI ignited the conflict between Arab and Jew in the Middle East. This is a story of intrigue among rival empires; of misguided strategies; and of how conflicting promises created a legacy of bloodshed which determined the fate of the Middle East. This film pieces together a disturbing picture of a cynical and duplicitous war time govt.

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Torture is a multinational industry – but its headquarters is in the USA

Channel 4 – Torture: The Dirty Business

In this programme Andrew Gilligan examines the CIA's practice of abducting terrorist suspects and transferring them to states such as Egypt and Syria, where torture is routine. The programme also exposes the British government's refusal to condemn the use of torture by the government of Uzbekistan, for the sake of the 'evidence' it produces: "selling our souls for dross", in the words of the former British ambassador

stream

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The War for Oil.

BBC Money Programme – The War for Oil

The advocates of war insist it's not about oil. But global oil production is on the brink of terminal decline and when the West begins to run short of supplies - Iraq could be a lifeline

stream

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download

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Preventive Warriors.

Michael Burns – Preventive Warriors

A documentary project that takes a look at the US National Security Strategy 2002, its goals, origins and potential consequences. The film outlines how the US response to international crises in a unipolar world might very well impact the course of human history

stream

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neo-conservatives.

BBC Panorama – The War Party

Panorama investigates the "neo-conservatives", the small and unelected group of right-wingers, who critics claim have hijacked the White House

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Beyond Iraq and a Hard Place.

Bremner, Bird & Fortune – BEYOND Iraq and a Hard Place

The follow-up to 'Between Iraq and a Hard Place' by Vera Productions (see below).

Again, well researched amazing satire

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Mark Thomas: Weapons Inspector.

Channel Four – Mark Thomas: Weapons Inspector

Mark takes on the role of UNTHOM weapons inspector, and sets out to find WMD - not in Iraq - but in Britain and the US

stream

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ABC News Nightline.

ABC News, Nightline – Spoils of War

The importance of Iraq’s oil supplies and who will control them after a war



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Jay Garner.

BBC Newsnight – General Jay Garner

Greg Palast interviews the former US administrator in Iraq, who describes Washington's long-term vision of Iraq as an American political and military base in the Middle East



real player





Michel Chossudovsky.

Michel Chossudovsky - professor of economics, University of Ottawa

Disarming The War Agenda

stream or download

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McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario - September 25th 2003

lecture

windows media player

questions and answers

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Paul O'Neill, the Democrats and regime rotation

stream or download

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Greg Palast.

Greg Palast – BBC Newsnight and the Guardian newspaper

Alex Jones and Sacred Cow Productions interview Greg Palast. They discuss civil liberties in the US, the Bush crime family, the Project for the New American Century, Iraq and Oil

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stream/download

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the World According to Bush.

CBC News - the World According to Bush

Excellent documentary on the inner-workings of the Bush administration. Aims to show how the Bushes have not only dined with the devil, but have often invited themselves to his table



real player





Greg Palast.

C-Span – interview with Greg Palast

The upcoming US presidential election, US policy in Iraq and other topical issues



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Pilger in Afghanistan.

ITV John Pilger - Breaking the Silence: Truth and lies in the war on terror

Mainstream documentary exposing the real reasons for the war on terror, raising the issue of rising fascism



windows media player



real player





What Barry Say's.

Simon Robson - What Barry Say's

An animation constructed around a monologue by Barry McNamara, criticizing US foreign policy and the Project for the New American Century



windows media/real player





Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore

Michael Moore – Fahrenheit 9/11

Winner of the Palme D'or, 2004 Cannes film festival

full version, stream/download

windows media player





Dr David Kelly.

Channel 4 News – Doubts over Dr David Kelly's suicide

A British television news item about medical experts who have doubts over whether Kelly killed himself



real player





Stephen Pelletiere.

Stephen Pelletiere – CIA analyst (ret. prof at the US Army War College)

'The predicament Mr Bush and the Pentagon hawks have gotten us into'

part 1

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part 2

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UNCOVERED: the whole truth about the Iraq war.

Robert Greenwald – UNCOVERED: the whole truth about the Iraq war

This documentary by 'moveon.org' takes a detailed look at the spin and distortions given by the Bush administration to justify the war



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America's Defense Monitor.

America's Defense Monitor – The Making of a Dictator

The arming of Saddam, by, amongst others, George Bush snr.
produced in May 1993

stream

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Peak Oil.

Dr Colin Campbell – Peak Oil

In 2000, oil industry expert Dr Colin Campbell lectured in Germany on the peak of world oil production



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short interview with Campbell

part 1

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part 2

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Hidden Wars of Desert Storm.

the Hidden Wars of Desert Storm

This documentary shows how the US government has manipulated the Gulf to ensure a secure supply of oil, including how the CIA installed their puppet Saddam Hussein

stream

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download

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President of OPEC.

BBC News 'Hardtalk' – Oil as a Weapon

An interview with the President of OPEC, discussing the relevance of Iraq’s oil



real player





Scott Ritter.

BBC News 'Hardtalk' – Iraq: Scott Ritter

An interview with Scott Ritter, discussing the latest ISG report on WMD in Iraq



real player





Hans Blix.

BBC News 'Hardtalk' – Saddam's Weapons

The former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix doubts whether WMD will ever be found in Iraq



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BBC Newsnight.

BBC Newsnight - Theft of the Presidency

How the Bush brothers stole the 2000 US election by removing black Democrats from voter lists in Florida



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Oilfields.

BBC News – US ready to seize Gulf oil in 1973

Recently made public British government documents show that the US were considering using force to seize oilfields in the Middle East during an oil embargo by Arab states in 1973

dial-up

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broadband

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World War IV.

Alex Jones – radio talk show host (Sacred Cow Productions)

'Iraq is the perfect gateway to control the region'
stream

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Rumsfeld & Saddam.

Donald Rumsfeld & Saddam Hussein

In 1983 these criminals met to discuss chemical & biological weapons sales



windows media player





Ramsey Clark.

Ramsey Clark – former US attorney general

‘Regime change needs to begin at home’



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Between Iraq and a Hard Place.

Bremner Bird and Fortune – Between Iraq and a Hard Place

The Channel 4 satirists’ take on the war with Iraq, full of factual information

download or stream

windows media player





BBC Newsnight.

BBC Newsnight - 'The Programme that asks the awkward questions'

Watch the latest Newsnight programme (updated weekdays at 22.35 GMT)



real player





Question Time.

BBC Question Time - 'Live UK debate featuring guests and the public'

Watch the latest Question Time programme



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