في الذكرى التاسعة عشر أسماء ضحايا محرقة ملجأ العامرية 19th

Al Amiriya Shelter We Never Forget

Al Amiriya Shelter in Baghdad was bombed by the Order of US President George Bush Jr. on February13, 1991while the Americans were celebrating Valentine Day. More than 408 people died mostly children and women; this is a mass murder crime against humanity that went unpunished.

Here is a list of names of some of the victims published by the Iraqi Ministry Of Culture and Information in 1996.

Al-Moharer republishes it to remind the world of the American crimes committed in Iraq then and now.



Iman Naif Ahmed, female student, born 1973.
Ibrahim Naif Ahmed, male student, born 1980.
Abd al-karim abd, wage earner, born 1934.
Bushra Abd, female student, born 1977.
Saddia Abd, born 1979.
Suad Habib Khasim, housewife, born 1954.
Asma' Sa'id Ahmed, student, born 1975.
Isra' Said Ahmed, born 1977.
Imad Sa'id Ahmed, male, born 1979.
Ala' Said Ahmed, female, born 1983.
Fou'd Said Ahmecd, male, born 1981.
Bayda Said Ahmed, female child, born 1986.
Intessar Said Ahmed, born 1988.
Sabiha Mahammed Abbas, housewife, born 1959.
Amel Mohammed Abbas, student, born 1963.
Iman Mohammed Abbas, born 1976.
Fakria Abbas ALi, civil servant, born 1953.
Othman Firas Hussein, female student, born 1981.
Asma' Firas Hussein, female student, born 1981.
ALi Firas Hussein, male student, born 1980.
Shayma Firas Hussein, housewife, born 1982.
Adnan Firas Hussein, male child, born 1986.
Kahtan Firas Hussein, born 1987.
ALia' Firas Hussein, female, born 1990.
Karima Rasheed Daher, midwife nurse, born 1941.
Kulud Akram Saleh, civil servant, born 1964.
Nadwan Akram Saleh, housewife, born 1969.
Nabia Mansour, born 1937.
Sundus Shakir Mohammed, civil servant, born 1957.
Yehaia Mohammed, male student, born 1962.
Shakir Mohammed Salman, retired, born 1932.
Yasir Mohammed Bashid, child, born 1990.
Nadima Abbas Thamer, housewife, born 1953.
Mustafa Salah Abed Mohammed, male child, born 1989.
Sammer Abed al-Rasul Abbas, student, born 1948.
Ahmed Abed al-Rassul, born 1985.
Mohammed Abed al-Rassul Abbas, born 1988.
Hayder Abed al-Rassul Abbas, child, born 1989.
Majeda jouhi, female civil servant, born 1969.
kaydan Kassem Thwiny, male student, born 1977.
Ala' Ja'far Khuddyer, male student, born 1966.
Razkiya Sharief Abed, housewife, born 1945.
Ala' Ibrahim Yassien, student, born 1971.
Rawa Ibrahim Yassien, born 1975.
Nadia Ibrahim Yassien, born 1985.
Saif Ibrahim Yassien, male student, born 1981.
Fa'za Aziz Hassen, female civil servant, born 1967.
Rasha Aziz Hassen, child, born 1985.
Samira Ibrahim khadam, student, born 1979.
Amsha Abbas Samir, housewife, born 1934.
Hameed Majeed al-Bayaty, male retired, born 1940.
Fawzia Abed al-Mahdy, female, born 1946.
Wafika Khalil Ibrahim, housewife, born 1930.
Maythem Hameed Majeed, male student, born 1976.
Shayma' Haed Majeed, female, born 1979.
Nada Najem Abeed, housewife, born 1966.
Hayder Mohammed Hameed, male child, born 1990.
Karima Ma'uif Ali, housewife, born 1949.
Sabiha Mohammed Khalef, born 1950.
Waled Abed al-Alah Ibrahim, student, born 1977.
Noor Abed al-Alah Ibrahim, born 1980.
Ibrahim Abed al-Alah Ibrahim, male, born 1982.
Marwa Abed al-Alah Ibrahim, female child, born 1988.
Makbula Hassen, housewife, born 1940.
Khadija Hassen, born 1935.
Shakha Ahmed Hamoud, born 1916.
Lam'ia Ali Ahmed, born 1954.
Zina Youssef Wais, student, born 1981.
Nesrin Youssef Wais, born 1983.
Fatima Youssef, child, born 1986.
Ahmed Youssef Waiss, male, born 1989.
Adiba Aswad Shamel, housewife, born 1930.
Alia Nasser Hussein, student, born 1975.
Najat Nasser Hussein, female student, born 1976.
Fatima Nasser Hussein, born 1978.
Ali Nasser Hussein, male, born 1980.
Iman Nasser Hussein, female, born 1982.
Sajeda Atia Sharji, housewife, born 1956.
Odai Saleh Khafoori, male student, born 1979.
Ahmed Saleh Khafoori, born 1980.
Dalal Saleh Khafoori, female, born 1981.
Kossai Saleh Khafoori, male, born 1983.
Saif Saleh Khafoori, child, born 1988.
Salima Hammadi Saleh, female teacher, born 1945.
Manal Ahmed Idan, student, born 1970.
Shayma Ahmed Idan, female student, born 1974.
Mo'ttaz Ahmed Idan, male, born 1989.
Ghassan Hussein Ibrahim, retired, born 1937.
Summia Ibrahim Humoud, female teacher, born 1947.
Moayed Hameed Hamed, male wage earner, born 1943.
Hana Hameed Hamed, housewife, born 1959.
Sada Hameed Hamed, student, born 1981.
Zina Muayed Hameed, born 1980.
Khalid Muayed Hameed, male child, born 1986.
Mohammed Muayed Hameed, born 1990.
Sate'a Hameed Hamed, housewife, born 1946.
Durayed Ra ad Sa'adi, male student, born 1974.
Lina Ra'ad Sa'adi, female, born 1976.
Nidhal Sa'adi Kamal, female retired, born 1945.
Bassam Mouthana Rashid, male student, born 1976.
Mayes Samir Rashid, female, born 1982.
Liza Samir, born 1985.
Samir Heshmet Ghaith, male child, born 1989.
Qammera Hussein Khidher, housewife, born 1920.
Fadhila Abbas Obid, born 1939.
Iman Mohammed Ali, civil servant, born 1967.
Shatha Mohammed Ali, born 1968.
Nadwa Mohammed Ali, student, born 1972.
Maha Mohammed Ali, born 1976.
Ja'afer Mohammed Ali, male, born 1975.
Baer Mohammed Ali, born 1976.
Nuha Mohammed Ali, female student, born 1976.
Iman Abed Obid, housewife, born 1968.
-Gufran Hussein Mehmood, child, born 1989.
Salman Dhia Fadhel, male student, born 1975.
Shayma Dhia Fadhel, female, born 1974.
Hassen Salman Abed al-Qader, male retired, born 1931.
Fatima Abed al-Mona'm, housewife, born 1935.
Sana Hassen Salman.
Wafa Hassen SalmanMohammed Kadhim Abbas, male child, born 1990.
Layla Hassen Salman, female.
Manal Hassen Salman.
Euona Hassen, female.
Rabab Abed al-Ameer Mustafa, housewife, born 1935.
Zaid Ala' Abed al-Ameer, male student, born 1982.
Adnan Hassen Sa'id, retired, born 1935.
Amal Adnan Hussein, female civil servant, born 1964.
Inas Adnan Sa'id, student, born 1976.
Hind Ra'ad Mohammed Sa'id, child, born 1987.
Ahlam Kamal Mohammed, housewife, born 1945.
Awes Adnan Hussein, male student, born 1978.
Hala Ra'ad Mohammed Sa'id, female child, born 1991.
Nedhal Mehmood Mussa, housewife, born 1948.
Manar Abed al-Karim Fathi, student, born 1979.
Dalia Abed al- Mohmmed, born 1980.
Mustafa Abed al-Karim Mohammed, male student, born 1984.
Hala Abed al-Karim Mohammed, female child, born 1985.
Sabiha Abed Alah Reks, housewife, born 1944.
Elham Abed Alah, civil servant, born 1961.
Sabiha Radhi Rahim, housewife, born 1939.
Ibtessam Rashid Sahab, student, born 1969.
Wijdan Rashid Sahab, born 1971.
Belal Rashid Sahab, male, born 1977.
Mayes Sa'ad Mehmood, female child, born 1985.
Mohammed Sa'ad Mehmood, male, born 1987.
Awatef Mehmood Mossa, female civil servant, born 1960.
Shatha Kadhim Isma'il, teacher, born 1957.
Hiba Abed al-Majid, child, born 1985.
Raja' Mohammed Sayaj, housewife, born 1958.
Rana Hameed, female student, born 1980.
Shayma Hameed Abood, born 1981.
Rasha Hammed Abood, born 1984.
ALi Hameed Abood, male child, born 1988.
Daina Hammeed Abood, female, born 1990.
Ammar Ahmed, male student, born 1978.
Walid ALi Salman, male, born 1974.
Amer Qassem ALi, male, born 1975.
Adila Abed, housewife, born 1925.
Sally Ahmed Salman, student, born 1984.
Seham Saleh Mahdi, civil servant, born 1946.
Hussein ALi Ibrahim, male student, born 1982.
Samah Ali Ibrahim, female, born 1983.
Mahia Ahmed Yassin, born 1982.
Samira Hameed Saleh, housewife, born 1961.
Rula Sabah Abed al-Hameed, student, born 1982.
Mohammed Sabah Abed, male, born 1984.
Abir Sabah Abed al-Hameed, female child, born 1987.
Wassen Ref'at ALi, student, born 1980.
Wissam Ref'at ALi, male, born 1975.
ALi Kadim, male, born 1975.
Joodi Waiss al Doori, retired, born 1924.
Belkis Hassani, housewife, born 1934.
Nawal joodi, teacher, born 1958.
Jamila joodi, civil servant, born 1961.
Thawra joodi, housewife, born 1976.
Iman Kamel Hamoodi, student, born 1975.
Samira Baha, teacher, born 1932.
Alia' Kamal Mustafa, student, born 1971.
Omar Kamal Mustafa, male, born 1978.
Seham Kalifa Kattab, female, born 1943.
Raja' Hussein Noori, born 1963.
Rasmia Abed, born 1940.
Amal Khudier Dhari, born 1964.
Hind Dafer Fayssel, child, born 1989.
Shahed Dafer Fayssel, born 1988.
Bassima Khudier Dhari, born 1970.
Bushra Ahmed, born 1977.
Shayma Ali Hussein, student, born 1976.
Mohammed ALi Hussein, male, born 1979.
Mustafa Ali Hussein, born 1981.
Hussein Ali Hussein, born 1974.
Hadil Talib, female child, born 1989.
Karar Talib, male, born 1990.
Samira Daham jassem, female student, born 1961.
Adnan Daham jassem, male student, born 1976.
Hamida Fayadh Ibrahim, female retired, born 1927.
Iftikhar Rahim Kalil, housewife, born 1972.
Ahmed Kalil Ibrahim, male student, born 1970.
Wa'al Mohammed Abed Ali, male student, born 1980.
Rabia' Faris Abbas, housewife, born 1954.
Maher Sadoon, male student, born 1971.
Lamia Abed Alah Saleh, female retired, born 1937.
Qhtan Ismail, male, born 1940.
Afrah Mohammed Fiadh, female child, born 1985.
Mehmood Mohammed Fiadh, male wage earner, born 1965.
Fadhila Ghdban Mohammed, housewife, born 1942.
Ali Hussein Mohammed, male student, born 1980.
Shatha Hussein Mohammed, female, born 1977.
Zina Hussein Mohammed, born 1983.
Mohammed Hussein Mohammed, male child, born 1986.
Adiba Ahmed, female teacher, born 1942.
Ghada Muhammed Khudiar, student, born 1970.
Abir Mohammed Khudiar, born 1974.
Ghaida Mohammed Khudiar, born 1977.
Rana Mohammed Khudiar, born 1975.
Alia Alwan Manhel, housewife, born 1938.
Sausan Abbas, civil servant, born 1968.
Maha Abbas, student, born 1973.
Muntaha Abbas, born 1976.
Hassan Ali Hussein, male, born 1976.
Eftekar Farid Al-Said, housewife, born 1946.
Mohammed Al-Said Farid, male student, born 1978.
Ahmed Al-Said Farid, born 1980.
Mehmood Al-Said Farid, born 1982.
A'ssma Al-Said, female, born 1984.
Hafsa Mohammed Mustafa, housewife, born 1968.
Mohammed Ahmed al-Knas, male child, born 1988.
Salma Ahmed al-Knas, female, born 1989.
Fatema Hassan al-Mustafa, housewife, born 1942.
Amena Mohammel al-Mustafa, student, born 1973.
Jumana Mohammed al-Mustafa, born 1975.
Rafi' Mohammed al-Mustafa, male, born 1974.
Hassan Mohammed al-Mustafa, born 1983.
Khadija Mohammed al-Mustafa, female, born 1984.
Nidhal Rashid Mohammed, housewife, born 1959.
Noor Saad Hammadi, child, born 1989.
Mustafa Saad Hammadi, male, born 1988.
Farah Saad Hammadi, female, born 1987.
Rajeha Mehmood Fawzi, housewife, born 1945.
Rana Musleh Hammadi, student, born 1977.
Hind Musleh Hammadi, born 1982.
Rusul Musleh Hammadi, born 1971.
Hammza Musleh Hammadi, male, born 1983.
Samira Ibrahim Saleh, housewife, born 1947.
Khulud Rahim Batawi, female student, born 1971.
Sajeda Rahim Batawi, born 1972.
Eyiad Rahim Batawi, male, born 1980.
Ala Rahim Batawi, born 1983.
Haifa Ja'far ali, housewife, born 1950.
Fua'ad Tariq Ahmed, male student, born 1979.
Karrar Tariq Ahmed, child, born 1985.
Zina Tariq Ahmed, female student, born 1977.
Lina Tariq Ahmed, born 1974.
Yassir Taha Shaghani, male, born 1982.
Raja Qassem Muhssen, female, born 1976.
Amira Murshed Rashid, housewife, born 1957.
Firas Fawzi Abed al-Razaq, male student, born 1977.
Fadia fawzi Abed al-Razaq, female, born 1978.
Murad Fawzi Abed al-Razaq, male, born 1980.
Belal Fawzi Abed al-Razaq, born 1983.
Baha Fawzi Abed al-Razaq, born 1985.
Ala Fawzi Abed al-Razaq, born 1975.
Samiha Ibrahim Hameed, housewife, born 1941.
Wi'am Abed al-Kalil, born 1974.
Ibtehal Abed al-Kalil, born 1974.
A'thir Abed al-Kalil, male, born 1977.
Hussein Abed Ali, born 1924.
Sa'dia Kasseb, housewife, born 1924.
Nebha Naif, born 1945.
Sahera Naif, born 1957.
Mohammed Hussein Abed Ali, male student, born 1972.
Ahmed Hussein Abed Ali, born 1974.
Mustafa Hussein Abed Ali, born 1977.
Omer Hussein Abed Ali, born 1980.
Hadi Hussein Abed Ali, born 1970.
Sa'ad Hussein Abed Ali, born 1982.
Sa'ad Abed al-Hameed Al-Rawi, retired, born 1946.
Hutham Kalil jawad, female teacher, born 1948.
A'fia Sa'ad Abed al-Hameed, student, born 1978.
Omer Sa'ad Abed al-Hameed, male, born 1979.
Hiba Sa'ad Abed al-Hameed, female, born 1983.
Ilham Kalil jawad, civil servant, born 1950.
A'thra Ibrahim jawad, born 1941.
Buthaina Mohammed Khalaf, housewife, born 1937.
Sami'a Mustafa Zaidan, born 1932.
Bushra Meftah Mohammed, student, born 1974.
BelKhis Abed al-Karim Mushir, housewife, born 1945.
Izdehar Abed al-Wahab Mustafa, student, born 1966.
Fatima Khudiar Mustaf, civil servant, born 1968.
Zainab Khudiar Mustaf, student, born 1971.
Sukaina Khudiar Mustaf, female student, born 1973.
Belal Khudiar Mustaf, male, born 1984.
Wedad Kalil al Da'ad, housewife, born 1951.
Hind Majed Ibrahim, female student, born 1972.
Lu'ai Majed Ibrahim, male, born 1978.
Saif Majed Ibrahim, born 1984.
Safa Majed Ibrahim, female child, born 1990.
Fadhila Latif Mohammed, housewife, born 1938.
Intessar Jaber Kalil, born 1960.
Hajem Jaber Tala, male wage earner, born 1918.
Makia Hawas Khalaf, housewife, born 1918.
Sharifa Hussein Saghira, born 1930.
Suhad Qassim Hajim, student, born 1976.
Zainab Qassim Hajim, born 1977.
Wazban Qassim Hajim, male, born 1982.
Dhul-Fikar Qassim Hajim, male student, born 1983.
Shayma' Kadoori Nasser, born 1980.
Muna Kadoori Nasser, born 1980.
Rassmia Abdullah Saleh, housewife, born 1939.
Ibtessam Hameed Abdullah, teacher, born 1953.
Nahlla Hameed, student, born 1967.
Affin Sa'di Taha, student, born 1982.
Nivin Sa'di Taha, born 1985.
Lian Sa'di Taha, born 1986.
Kissma Jabar Ahmed, housewife, born 1949.
Ali Akram, male student, born 1979.
Othman Akram, born 1983.
Jinan Akram, female child, born 1986.
Majid Hameed, male retired, born 1939.
Sabiha Rashid Saleh, housewife, born 1943.
A'ssma Majid Hameed, student, born 1970.
Ahmed Saleh Shehab, female, born 1968.
Niran Saleh Shehab, female student, born 1971.
U'ruba Saleh Shehab, born 1975.
Ahlam Saleh Shehab, born 1967.
Khalidia Hamed Ameen, housewife, born 1934.
Rajeha Abedulla, teacher, born 1942.
Nasser Mohammed Fiadh, male student, born 1974.
Mohammed Omer Abed al-Hussein, born 1976.
Sana' Taha Mohammed, female civil servant, born 1951.
Safa' Ali Hussein, male student, born 1977.
Wassen Ali Hussein, female, born 1979.
Mohammed Jassim Muqhbel, male, born 1983.
Hafsa Abed al-Khadder, housewife, born 1929.
Mohammed Abed al-Khadder, male student, born 1973.
Salma Abed Rahi, housewife, born 1958.
Mustafa Hameed Jabbar, male student, born 1977.
Mohammed Hameed Jabbar, born 1982.
Ahmed Hameed Jabbar, child, born 1986.
Najat Fadhel, housewife, born 1953.
Ussama Abed, male student, born 1982.
Issra' Abed, female child, born 1984.
Yehia Abed, male, born 1985.
Hiba Abed, female, born 1990.
Malika Nawaf Dhaher, housewife, born 1962.
Karam Abed Aziz, male student, born 1982.
Yatherb Abed, female, born 1984.
Farah Abed, born 1986.
Arwa Abed, child, born 1988.
Khulud Hameed, housewife, born 1963.
Shayma' Dawood Rokan, student, born 1977.
Inas Sami Dawood, born 1985.
Ali Sami Dawood, male, born 1987.
Sara Sami Dawood, female child, born 1990.
Farah Sami Dawood, born 1989.
Hana' Mohammed, housewife, born 1951.
Shayma' Kalil Ibrahim, student, born 1973.
Ghaid' Kalil Ibrahim, born 1975.
Zina Kalil Ibrahim, born 1978.
Ali Kalil Ibrahim, male student, born 1982.
Issera' Kalil Ibrahim, female teacher, born 1969.
Randa Mohammed Kamel, child, born 1990.
Nawal Ibrahim Ali, housewife, born 1949.
Shwooki Shamoon, female, born 1948.
Safa' Mohammed Ali, male retired, born 1937.
Sarmad Safa' Mohammed, student, born 1978.
Madiha Mohammed Amin, housewife, born 1924.
Efaf Saleh Mehmood, born 1956.
Batool Saleh Mehmood, born 1955.
Zahra' Ghaish Saleh, student, born 1982.
Huda Ghaish Saleh, born 1987.
Sana' Yossif Abu-, female.
Wafia Mohammed Majid, teacher, born 1943.
Zahra' Mohammed Nader, student, born 1979.
Marwan Mohammed Nader, male, born 1985.
Samira Abed aL-Karim, housewife, born 1938.
Amira Abed al-karim, born 1940.
Talia' Ahmed Jarid Jassem Mohammed, housewife, born 1944.
Mahdi Mohammed Saleh, male student.
Mohammed Ahmed Talet.
Mohammed Hussein Saleh.
Sa'dia Jawad, female civil servant, born 1964.
Walid Shaker-Kalil, male.
Abed al-Salam-Ghaith.
Salam Mohammed Awad.
Dooriad Naji-Hameed, male civil servant.
Mohammed Shaker.
Radhi Yossif.
Jassem Hiak.
Rabi (Father's name unknown)
Ahmed Ibrahim Kalil.
Abed al-Khaliq (father's name unknown).
Adnan Ahmed Na'em.
Haidi Rahim Kalil.
Kalthum Jaber Khalif, housewife, born 1959.
Jassmia Abed Khalaf, born 1917.
Firas Kadhim Abbas, male student, born 1982.
Amjad Kadhim Abbas, born 1983.
Nibras Kadhim Abbas, female, born 1985.
Inas Kadhim Abbas, female child, born 1988.

11 September

BBC discusses CHILE: THE OTHER 9/11
On the morning of Tuesday 11 September 1973, two jets launched a deadly attack on the Presidential Palace of La Moneda in the heart of Santiago, Chile. A military coup led by Augusto Pinochet ousted the presidency of Salvador Allende, the world's first democratically-elected Marxist head of state.

Also, someone queried "Riverbend" of Baghdad Burning:

"Someone asked me whether it was true that the 'Iraqi people were dancing in the streets of Baghdad' when the World Trade Center fell. Of course it's not true. I was watching the tv screen in disbelief- looking at the reactions of the horrified people. I wasn't dancing because the terrified faces on the screen, could have been the same faces in front of the Amiriyah shelter on February 13… it's strange how horror obliterates ethnic differences- all faces look the same when they are witnessing the death of loved ones."

Horror Chamber

Horror Chamber
Inside the Al-Amiriya Shelter

By RAMZY BAROUD

March 29, 2003

A few years ago, I stepped into the horror of the Gulf War. It was April 1999, and the place was Baghdad's al-Amiriya bomb shelter.
Living most of my life in a refugee camp in Gaza, where the murder of innocent people at the hands of Israeli troops is routine, I was little hesitant to walk into al-Amiriya. I was not braced for what I would witness. I already knew that hundreds of people had wasted there, during the Gulf War, in 1991, when an American 'smart' bomb shattered the giant compound. But that's all I knew.
It was cold, damp and dark. A few lonely florescent lamps were not working since the regular bombing of Baghdad's electric generators by US-British warplanes left the city without any power for most of the day, everyday. Ironically, the only light shed on the shelter came from the monstrous hole in the roof, made eight years ago by the American bomb.
The shelter was designed to withstand a nuclear attack on Baghdad; it was solid and giant, and had the capacity to host hundreds of people. Among the scores of colorful pictures of the victims, there were a few photos of three Palestinians families. They were refugees, working and living in Iraq, and there, in this place, they died.
When the American bomb fell, the shelter's doors shut down, automatically. The doors were designed to do so, since the attack was never expected to target the shelter itself, but nearby areas. Those who didn't immediately die as a result of the massive explosion pounded at the door and screamed for help.
American officials at the time assured us that that the place was used for military purposes; as they always do, when innocent people are "mistakenly" killed.
The powerful explosion penetrated to the bottom floor where giant water tanks were stored. On that floor, families cooked and washed. Some of these tanks boiled with water. Seconds later, the tanks exploded and the boiling water rose to over three feet. You could still see the mark of where the water rose, as well as the impression of the human flesh that melted to the wall due to the intense heat of the water.
"These are the marks of a woman's skin still holding her child," an Iraqi woman, who lost her entire family in al-Amiriya said. She left her husband and nine children and ran home to bring some food. She came back to find them all dead. Since then, she has lived in a tiny trailer in the shelter's backyard, escorting visitors with her black cloths and a candle. "These are my children", she points to a framed picture of happy looking children, neatly dressed and smiling politely.
As I stepped out of al-Amiriya's "tour", I could never escape the echoing voices of the Iraqi children, pounding at the door, pleading to God and to humanity to get them out of the inferno.
But al-Amiriya was neither the beginning, nor is it the end.During the 1991 Gulf War to "liberate Kuwait", uncounted innocent lives were taken. Some estimates put the number of Iraq casualties during the war at over a million. Even the most moderate estimates are catastrophic.
The US has successfully liberated the oil fields in Kuwait, but the Iraq tragedy continues to unfold. Anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 Iraqi children have die every month, as a direct result of the US-led UN economic sanctions on Iraq that followed the war. Even United Nations' own reports testified to that.
The Oil-for-Food program, which came into effect nearly five years after the end of the Gulf War, was of little significance to assist an ailing economy and a ruined infrastructure. Iraq was still banned from importing many products using the little funds that the program provided.
Over a week ago, the United States and its British allies began yet another war against Iraq, killing and maiming hundreds thus far, with the aim of "liberating Iraq", and "freeing the Iraqi people." It's appalling how such twisted logic can hold for such a long time.
An MSNBC commentator explained the reason why the first day of bombings in Iraq, was so concentrated and not widespread. "We have to keep in mind that in a few days, we will own this country," he said.
We need not examine such statements however, nor the provocative comments made by top US army officials, nor the desecration of an Iraqi flag and the offensive replacement of an American one, after the Umm al-Qasr battle. If this eagerness to invade Iraq was for the sake of the Iraqi people, why have we tortured and starved an entire generation of them for so long?
We can disagree on the reasons behind the war; whether it was for strategic control, the oil or Israel. But rational people should have no illusions, that saving the Iraqi people is not one of the reasons we are investing over $100 billion to finance this indefensible war. If you wish to have further proof, pay a visit to al-Amiriya shelter. Despite everything, it is still standing.
Ramzy Baroud is the editor-in-Chief of PalestineChronicle.com and the author of "Searching Jenin: Eyewitness Accounts of the Israeli Invasion."
Yesterday's Features
Daniel WolffA Road Trip in Wartime
Chris ClarkeWe Never Spit on Any Baby Killers
David LindorffSaddam, a Hero Made in Washington
Pierre TristamIcarus on Crack: American Hubris and Iraq
Jason LeopoldRichard Perle: the Enterprising Hawk
Saul LandauTechnological Massacre
Carol NorrisThe Mother of All Bombs
Riad Abdelkarim, MDIraq War Lingo 101
Adam EngelSchlock and Awe
Website of the WarIraq Body Count

(Umm Ghada at the Amiriya Bunker)

Art and Power
The reasons for the familiar view that art is largely irrelevant to everyday life and politics deserve scrutiny–Murray Edelman

Poet Laureate Takes On War

by Robert Minhinnick

(Umm Ghada at the Amiriya Bunker)

It is years later now

but time can also run backwards.

Still she squats in candlelight,

Umm Ghada in the caravan,

or in 125 degrees Fahrenheit,

a cockroach ticking on her divan.

At night

they come out of the bunker,

the children, the old people,

but all a fog of flesh.

one body with four hundred souls

is exposed in a photographic flash.

They pick the wedding rings and wisdom teeth

from crematorium ash.

Who was it dreamed a stealth bomber?

Stealth steals.

Think of a smart bomb.

Not so smart.

Where the missiles entered Amiriya

daylight was star-shaped in the sarcophagus,

the concrete blasted back,

all the bodies foaming like phosphorus

in a bunker in Iraq.

The old women

took off their shoes

to welcome the fire that jumped into their mouths.

How quickly the children

found themselves unborn.

Yes, stealth steals.

But still Umm Ghadaguards.

Umm Ghada

who goads God

with her grief

and the ghosts she carries,

Umm Ghada my guide

in the charnel house corridors.

What is she but a woman

in desert black.

Yet no desert was ever so black

as the sackcloth that Umm Ghada owns.

Not the Syrian desert’s

Bedouin black, its cairns

of cold stones.

• The Amiriya bunker in Baghdad was destroyed by the USAF on 13 February 1991. More than 400 civilians wer killed. Umm Ghada, lost manymembers of her family in the destruction, became a guide at Amiriya, living on the site. I met her there in September 1998. Her whereabouts today are unknown.