------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Sept. 5, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BASRA,IRAQ: RAMSEY CLARK DELEGATION TOURS U.S. BOMBING SITE Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and a delegation from International ANSWER--the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism coalition--arrived in the Iraqi city of Basra Aug. 27. Two days earlier a U.S. bombing raid there killed eight Iraqi civilians. The delegation toured the site of the bombing, met with families of those killed and visited a wounded victim in a local hospital. U.S. and British aerial attacks have continued almost daily since the Gulf War 11 years ago, though this is rarely reported in the U.S. corporate media. The delegation's aim is to gather information on the continuing impact of U.S.-led United Nations sanctions, which have claimed over 1 million lives, and to show solidarity with the Iraqi people as they prepare for a threatened U.S. war and invasion. Clark is the founder and chairperson of the International Action Center (IAC), which has campaigned against the devastating economic sanctions for more than a decade. Other delegates include Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice; Johnnie Stevens, co- director of Peoples Video Network; Kadouri al-Kaysi, coordinator of the Committee in Solidarity with the Iraqi People; and Brian Becker, co-director of the IAC. In a statement released by the IAC Aug. 28, Clark said: "We came to Basra to visit the hospitals and interview doctors and patients about the state of health care in Basra. We had planned to come here because the region is suffering stunning cancer rates. This area was the site of the greatest use of depleted uranium weapons by U.S. forces in the Gulf War. "Two days before we arrived in Basra," Clark continued, "U.S. war planes struck again, killing and wounding more than 20 people. We visited one of the wounded at the Basra Training Hospital and interviewed workers in the area who saw and heard the gigantic explosion the morning of Aug. 25. "While we were in Basra, U.S. war planes carried out two more major bombing attacks against the airport in Mosul and against civil and service installations in Al-Nukhayb, located south of Baghdad," he added. The ANSWER delegates were scheduled to inspect the Mosul airport Aug. 29. They are also visiting food distribution centers and hospitals and meeting with high government officials. SALUTES IRAQ'S 'STEADFASTNESS AND RESISTANCE' Xinhua News Agency reported that Clark met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz Aug. 26. He saluted the "steadfastness and resistance of the Iraqi people" and voiced his support for Iraq's resistance to President George W. Bush's invasion plans. Bush's threats constitute war crimes and crimes against peace under international law. On Aug. 27, Clark appeared live on Pacifica Radio's "Democracy Now!" program. The former attorney general debated a Pentagon spokesperson, Lt. Col. David Lapan. Readers can listen to the debate on the Web by going to www.webactive.com/pacifica/demnow/. The Iraqi News Agency reported Aug. 28 that the ANSWER delegates met with Minister of Health Dr. Omeed Midhat Mubarak in Baghdad. He explained that the sanctions and daily bombings continue to impose high rates of disease, death and environmental destruction on the Iraqi people. Mubarak added that the U.S. government still pressures the UN Security Council to enforce measures restricting the import of basic medicines and medical equipment. In his Aug. 28 statement, Clark said: "People in the United States must recognize that the war against Iraq goes on every day as the Bush administration prepares for a major ground war. ... Bombing and sanctions constitute an integrated strategy designed to overthrow the Iraqi government and replace it with a proxy regime similar to what now exists in Afghanistan. "The U.S. government falsely declares that its campaign against Iraq is motivated by a concern over Iraq's potential possession of non-conventional weapons. But the real goal is to dominate the strategic and oil-rich region and to destroy any government and people that desire to maintain their independence. "It is urgent that this country be allowed to trade, buy and sell all the products necessary to sustain and improve life," Clark continued. "The U.S. government is guilty of violating the basic tenets of international law as it wages aggression against Iraq. We urge all progressive people in the U.S. and elsewhere to take immediate action to end the criminal campaign against Iraq." Updated reports from the delegation can be found on the Web site: www.iacenter.org. --Greg Butterfield - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
