As if the Iraqis need yet another problem in their lives:
Iraq’s environment minister blamed Monday the use of depleted uranium weapons by U.S. forces during the 2003 Operation Shock and Awe for the current surge in cancer cases across the country.
As a result of “at least 350 sites in Iraq being contaminated during bombing” with depleted uranium (DU) weapons, Nermin Othman said, the nation is facing about 140,000 cases of cancer, with 7,000 to 8,000 new ones registered each year.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting of the Arab League, she also complained that many chemical plants and oil facilities had been destroyed during the two military campaigns since the 1990s, but the ecological consequences remain unclear.
“Our ministry is fledgling, and we need international support; notably, we need laboratories to better monitor air and water contamination,” she said.
But they shouldn’t worry. Leading war booster Daniel Pipes reassures them that, “The coalition gave Iraqis a fresh start; it cannot take responsibility for them nor rebuild their country.” Of course not. How unreasonable. We’ll invade and occupy your country, then stay indefinitely for our own interests alone.