The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Dear Dirk & List, A very good mailing. But you omit to mention that it includes the interview (not absolutely recent) with Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar, in Baghdad, who we know very well from his contributions to the CASI site. Greetings, Bert Gedin. From: "Dirk Adriaensens" <dirk.adriaensens@skynet.be> >To: <soc-casi-discuss@lists.cam.ac.uk> >Subject: [casi] U.S. occupation forces commit war crimes with impunity >Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 11:52:32 +0200 > > >[ Presenting plain-text part of multi-format email ] > >http://www.irak.be/ned/missies/medicalMissionColetteGeert/two_belgian_doctors_in_baghdad.htm >Baghdad diaries, April 11, 5:30 p.m. > > >Dr. Geert Van Moorter by satellite phone > > >U.S. occupation forces commit war crimes with impunity > > >Bert De Belder > > > >"We've heard more horrifying stories today about the U.S.-soldiers' >behavior. The injured are requesting the U.S. army vehicles for a ride to >the hospital in vain. Medical personnel doesn't even dare to ask permission >from American checkpoints to bring the wounded to the hospital as any Iraqi >who approaches U.S. soldiers risks to be shot. They would rather ask us, >the foreigners, to negotiate with the U.S.-troops for patients to be >allowed to pass. > >A journalist of The London Mail told me he was appalled by the U.S.-troops' >behavior. He had seen how they shot down two Iraqis without any reason. >Also somebody who came to their aid was shot in cold blood. "It's like in >Vietnam," the journalist sighed, " they take aim at anything that moves." I >also talked about it with an American army doctor. Do you know what he >answered? "You got to understand. These guys are still young. When they're >anxious, they easily shoot." The U.S. troops have blanket impunity here. >They can get away with anything and don't even risk any legal action. >"Nobody is perfect," they say. Or they justify it as a 'pre-emptive >strike'. Just like this whole war is a 'pre-emptive strike' against the >threat of Saddam's 'weapons of mass destruction'-that neither the weapons >inspectors, nor the U.S. occupation force have been able to find. >Apparently, shooting at an ambulance is also a 'pre-emptive strike' because >it might contain explosives! Two dead and three heavily injured? >'Collateral damage'! > >The U.S. troops' arrogance is incredible. We have to restrain ourselves >continuously not to argue with them. But we scorn them and snap their heads >off. Like those soldiers that were chopping a statue of Saddam in pieces to >bring home as souvenirs. I yelled: "Hurrah, you are real heroes! >Congratulations, that's a job well done!" The idiots thought I was serious >and looked at me gratefully. "Yeah, really great! You peppered an ambulance >with bullets. You made hundreds of civilian casualties. You allow the >looting of hospitals, leaving the wounded in agony. Real heroes!" It took >them some time to realize that I was actually ridiculing them with their >miserable pieces of Saddam's statue, while scolding them for having blood >on their hands. Finally they laughed sheepishly. And I laughed up my >sleeve." > > > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. >To unsubscribe, visit >http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss >To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk >All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk