Cancer rates exploding in Iraq

A very serious after-effect of the US/UK invasion and occupation of Iraq is the exploding rates of cancer. It is reported to be “spreading like wildfire” in places like Fallujah, Babil province, and Basra. All were sites of heavy bombardment with weapons coated with massive amounts of depleted uranium. These areas are also seeing a significant rise in birth defects.

Cancer- The deadly legacy of the invasion of Iraq

In Falluja, which was heavily bombarded by the US in 2004, as many as 25% of new- born infants have serious abnormalities, including congenital anomalies, brain tumors, and neural tube defects in the spinal cord.

The cancer rate in the province of Babil, south of Baghdad has risen from 500 diagnosed cases in 2004 to 9,082 in 2009 according to Al Jazeera English.

In Basra there were 1885 diagnosed cases of cancer in 2005. According to Dr. Jawad al Ali, director of the Oncology Center, the number increased to 2,302 in 2006 and 3,071 in 2007. Dr. Ali told Al Jazeera English that about 1,250-1,500 patients visit the Oncology Center every month now.

One doctor does draw a direct correlation between the depleted uranium and the cancers and birth defects.

Dr. Ahmad Hardan, who served as a special scientific adviser to the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the Iraqi Ministry of Health, says that there is scientific evidence linking depleted uranium to cancer and birth defects. He told Al Jazeera English, "Children with congenital anomalies are subjected to karyotyping and chromosomal studies with complete genetic back-grounding and clinical assessment. Family and obstetrical histories are taken too. These international studies have produced ample evidence to show that depleted uranium has disastrous consequences."

The cancer rates increased after both the 1991 war and the 2003 invasion and occupation. This increase happened five to six years after the bombardment, which is why we are seeing such an increase in 2008-2009.

There is also an increase in birth defects seen in Afghan children, and in children of US military who served in the 1991 war and 2003 invasion and occupation. Below under the fist comment is a you tube report from Al Jazeera on this horrible after-effect of the US/UK invasion, occupation and destruction in Iraq. And locals in the affected area are certainly blaming depleted uranium for these cancers and birth defects.


At least someone has the backbone to call this war and occupation of Iraq what it truly is: A MONSTROUS CRIME.

The war in Iraq had "no basis in international law", a Dutch inquiry found today, in the first ever independent legal assessment of the decision to invade. In a series of damning findings, a seven-member panel in the Netherlands concluded that the war, which was supported by the Dutch government following intelligence from Britain and the US, had not been justified in law.

It was the work of evil from start to finish.

Inside Iraq from al Jazeera English

You can bet your last dollar that the rest of the world knows about this, even as Americans are ignorant.