Children of War - Iraq

[BridgeTheGap]

In this year’s State of the Union address, President Barack Obama declared that “the Iraq war is coming to end”—at least for Americans, leaving “with their heads held high” because our “commitment has been kept.”

For millions of Iraqis, however, the war is far from over—in fact, for a growing number of families in cities that were nearly destroyed during the years of insurgency and counterinsurgency, the crisis is only beginning. As one Iraqi American said, “Just because we don’t pay attention doesn’t mean the rest of the world isn’t paying attention.”

According to studies and eyewitness accounts over the past few years, Fallujah—an Iraqi city that was practically obliterated by U.S. heavy artillery in two major offensives in 2004—is experiencing a staggering rate of birth defects. The situation echoes similar reports from Basra that began to circulate after the first Gulf War in 1991.

The litany of horrors is gut-wrenching: babies born with one eye in the middle of the face, missing limbs, too many limbs, brain damage, cardiac defects, and missing genitalia.

Read more: http://www.utne.com/Politics/Children-Of-War-Birth-Defects-Iraq-War.aspx#ixzz1S5rjq525

[tekisui]

1. Important article.

Just note that Americans aren't actually leaving. We are staying beyond 2011, continuing to add to the misery.

[patrice]

2. K&R

[Pooka Fey]

3. K&R

[swilton]

4. Similar to Agent Orange

US owes the rest of the world reparations for polluting the planet -

What US contractors would want to work in such a toxic area?

[patrice]

5. What kind of place is DU? This article has been up over 1 hr & has only 5 recs from all of those DU

ers who are so anti-War now.

Hypothesis: Someones do not like driving internet traffic toward The Utne Reader.

[raouldukelives]

6. Sadly K&R

The legacy our brave military leaves will last decades.

[midnight]

7. War should be illegal.... And starting illegal wars should be prosecuted....

[BridgeTheGap]

8. I agree. The "powers that be" seem all to ready to launch wars, while ignoring the effects on

innocent people.

[cate94]

9. K & R