The Women and Children of Iraq Are Under Siege
by Rania Masri
"I
am against war, since war means destruction, hurt and ruin. Nobody
should like war especially when all the great powers of the world gang
up against one country in an unequal war and try to destroy all signs of
progress and make the country go back to the middle ages. People are
starving to death and inflation is murder. Missiles and bombs do not
think, they hit and explode-whether you are military or civilian, sick
or well, old or young, men or women, you die. Where do you go to hide?"
—Iraqi woman over 50
years old
The war against the Iraqi people did not end in 1991 with George Bush's cease-fire declaration; instead, the war against the Iraqi people-against the Iraqi men, women, and children - is continuing with savage intensity to this very day. It has only changed in form from the thunder of bombs to the eerie silence of a militarily-enforced blockade.
More than 300,000 Iraqis were killed in the 43-day military war in 1991. Since then, more than one million people-mainly young children-have died as a direct result of the US-led blockade on this small country. The lack of food and medicine, along with the deteriorating sanitary conditions in Iraq, have caused far more harm and suffering than the military war itself-despite the use of more than 142,000 tons of bombs and 350 tons of depleted uranium shells during the bombing campaigns. From a legal perspective, the maritime blockade, coupled with the air blockade, amounts to an act of war, thereby making the economic sanctions a continuation of the war that supposedly ended in March 1991.
What have been the effects of this continuing war, euphemistically referred to as sanctions, on the people of Iraq? Four million people, one-fifth of the population, are currently starving to death in Iraq (UN FAO report, 1995). The general human situation is deteriorating everyday, while the situation for women in Iraq is even more precarious. Up to 95% of all pregnant women in Iraq suffer from anemia, and thus will give birth to weak, malnourished infants. Most of these infants will either die before reaching the age of five due to the lack of food and basic medicines or will be permanently scarred, either physically or mentally. Furthermore, many mothers, due to their own weak bodies, are unable to breast-feed their children. Due to the runaway inflation caused by the blockade, these families lack the means to feed their children. The mothers often bring their children to the hospital to die.
Every month in Iraq, according to the 1996 UNICEF report, more than 4,500 children under the age of five die from hunger. The children are the most vulnerable in this war. Twenty-three percent of all children in Iraq have stunted growth, approximately twice the percentage before the war. A 1995 FAO report Crop and Nutrition Status Assessment Mission states that child mortality level in Iraq has risen nearly fivefold since 1990. Alarming food shortages are causing irreparable damage to an entire generation of children. Due to the use of depleted uranium (a form of nuclear warfare) in the military campaign against the people of Iraq, there has been a dramatic increase in childhood cancers, particularly leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphomas. Congenital diseases and deformities in the fetuses-a condition similar to the babies of the Gulf War veterans-have also increased. Infant mortality in a child's first year is expected to reach an unprecedented 20%. More than 2 million children are starving to death in Iraq, and more than 1,500,000 orphans are crying out for help.
The most basic human right is the right to life, a right that is severely violated through this lethal blockade that limits food and medicine. Prior to 1991, Iraq used to have the most extensive and free health-care system in the region. Now, due to the blockade, hospitals suffer from a lack of medicine, needles, vaccines, and anesthesia. Minor surgeries, such as cesareans, are now commonly conducted without any anesthesia.
Women's standing in Iraqi society has suffered along with all else. Due to the choked economy, many women have lost their jobs and abandoned their education, thereby losing both their financial independence as well as their best opportunities for self-determination and liberation. Yet this loss seems almost trivial during a time when most women in Iraq focus all their efforts in search of enough food and clean water to ensure their family's survival.
Prior to the blockade, Iraq used to import 70% of its agricultural seeds. Seeds and fertilizers, the very means through which Iraq can feed its people, are officially banned by the blockade, as are needles, anesthesia, medical equipment, and a whole plethora of products needed to support modern medical treatments.
Waste-water treatment plants were destroyed during the military war, and spare parts to rebuild them are prohibited by the blockade. As a consequence, sewage fills the once clean streets, and the water supply is contaminated with disease-diseases for which there is no medicine available in the country.
Contrary to popular perception, United Nations Resolution 986 (UNR 986), also known as the "food for oil deal," is not the solution to this humanitarian tragedy in Iraq. UNR 986 will, under the most optimistic conditions, provide less than 25% of the minimal caloric intake to the 20 million besieged people of Iraq. The only solution is the lifting of the blockade on the people of Iraq so that the people may once again live and prosper.
The deaths of hundreds of thousands of children is unjustifiable. Already, more than half a million children under the age of five have been killed by this blockade. 4,500 children are dying every month. How many more must die? How many more mothers must cry helplessly?
Rania Masri is founder and coordinator of the Iraq Action Coalition.
END
Comment from webservant of Jesus-is-Savior.com ...
What you have just read are the consequences of the first U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 1991. Now, today, we've finished the job, murdering another one and a half million Iraqis since the 2002 invasion. The poor Iraqi people have been abused so much, for what? So we could steal their oil and install a puppet UN government to steal their nation's sovereignty. This is the same thing that the Communist Soviet Union did to Poland and other nations which it brutally conquered, except we do it in the name of peace and freedom! Either way nations are being conquered!
The name of the game is chaos because that gives the criminal establishment more control. War gives the globalists more money, more control, and more reasons to impose a Police State on the masses. War is their best weapon against humanity. While America's sons die on the battlefield, the elite globalists fill their coffers with blood money and the spoils of war. God hates war that is based on lies, fraud and covetousness. What America has done to Iraq is no different than what Jezebel did to Naboth in 1st Kings 21:1-20... the globalists coveted Iraq's oil fields, the Bush administration fabricated lies to falsely accuse Iraq, the evil mainstream newsmedia were paid to lie, over a million Iraqis were murdered and we stole their oil fields. Rest assured, just as God avenged innocent Naboth, so will He avenge the shed blood of the innocent citizens of Iraq.
When you stop educating and you start training, civilization dies!
I am not against legitimate war if it is to defend one's person, freedom and property. Due to the evil nature of the human heart, war is sometimes necessary to defend one's self. Albeit, everything that the U.S. has done in Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with defending freedom. The Bush administration lied, admittedly. President George W. Bush, at an elite White House dinner, even mocked and laughed over the crimes they committed against the Iraqi people.
At about 4 minutes into the following video, you'll see and hear President George W. Bush mocking, joking, and laughing about the missing Weapons of Mass Destruction. I do not endorse the foul language near the end, but I can certainly understand why people are extremely angry at The White House...
Sadly, the same Christians who
criticize such videos won't dare speak a word against the blatant evils
being committed by our highest leaders. The recent NDAA bill
allows Homeland Security the fascist power of
INDEFINITELY DETENTION
of American citizens. President Obama signed the bill into law on
December 31, 2011. The
new law permits
U.S. soldiers to have sex with animals. It permits homosexuality
in the military. My God, what is wrong with our country? Is this not
THE GREAT SATAN! We certainly are behaving like Satan
in America! We
get what we deserve as a sinful people who have
forgotten
the God of the Bible.
On November 4, 2011, Late Night TV host Conan O'Brien legally performed a same-sex marriage on national television. Only a hard-hearted fool would expect God to bless America when we approve of such wickedness. The crowds were all clapping and cheering for the homosexual couple. God is not amused!
The Bible NEVER teaches Christians to offer blind loyalty to criminals. In fact, Psalm 94:16 and Ephesians 5:11 command us to expose them for the evil doers they are. In Daniel 3:1-30, Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-nego all broke the law, refusing to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. They were cast into a fiery furnace and God mercifully spared their lives. King Nebuchadnezzar was enraged when they refused to submit to his authority. The New World Order today goes insane with fury when the public dares to defy their almighty state power. Whether it be Brother Lester Roloff, or Evangelist Kent Hovind, the state smashes anyone who refuses to bow to their power. In most cases, Christian's lives have not been spared throughout history. Even today in 2012, Christians in many third-world nations are being murdered for their faith.
In China you can't have a church without a permit. Think it can't happen here in America? A California couple was recently fined $300 for having a private Bible study in their living room. They've been ordered to cease and desist or face $500 fines for each offense.
City With Religious Roots Fines Home Bible Study
The Pacific Justice Institute
San Juan Capistrano, CASeptember 13, 2011A city in Southern California is demanding that a small home Bible study group stop meeting unless they obtain a cost-prohibitive permit.
The homeowners, Chuck and Stephanie Fromm, were fined $300 for holding the Bible study. Mr. Fromm appealed the ruling to the City of San Juan Capistrano, which was founded as a mission in the late 1700’s and is home to California’s oldest building still in use, a chapel where Father Junipero Serra celebrated mass. Fromm was told by a hearing officer that regular gatherings of more than three people require a conditional use permit. Officials also stated that further religious gatherings in the home would be subject to a $500 fine per meeting. The City eventually rejected the appeal and Pacific Justice Institute has taken the next step by appealing the decision to the California Superior Court in Orange County.
READ MORE: City With Religious Roots Fines Home Bible Study | Pacific Justice Institute
If Americans don't stand up today for their liberties, we will find ourselves enslaved tomorrow.
However, the type of evil war which the U.S. has committed against the Iraqi people is wrong, unbiblical and monstrous. I heard then Alaska governor, Sarah Palin foolishly claim that the Bush administration and U.S. troops were doing God's will. Only a complete fool who is not right with God would believe that for a second. God does not tell men to break His Commandments for any reason. The Bush administration lied, bearing false witness against an innocent and sovereign nation. The globalists coveted their natural resources and land, exploiting U.S. troops as paid mercenaries to fight someone else's war. The American public is so gullible that they such up everything the wicked newsmedia feed them.
Government is the steward of our liberties, not the grantor of our liberties. Remember that! We are seeing more and more encroachments on liberty as the years pass. The incredible thing is that there is so little resistance from the people. Only 40 members of 535 members of congress voted against the Police State's NDAA bill in December of 2011 (indefinite detention for American citizens). The bill became the law of the land on December 31, 2011.
The U.S. has killed over a million Iraqis. The U.S. led coalition of military forces have stolen their natural resources. We as Americans have blood on our hands. Brave U.S troops defended South Korea in the Korean War (1950-1953) against the advancing army of the Communist led North (including hundreds-of-thousands of Chinese troops). The U.S. prevented Communism from overtaking South Korea and they are still free today. Sadly, we lost Vietnam and the entire nation is Communist controlled today.
Iraq is a whole different situation, we made a preemptive strike against them, but they never even threatened us.
