Order of Business - 16th November 2005

Order of Business – 16th November 2005

Mr. Norris: I wish to raise a matter that affects
innocent bystanders. It is a matter I and other
Senators have raised at the Joint Committee on
Foreign Affairs repeatedly over the past few
months but it has been confirmed today, namely,
the admission by the United States authorities
that it has been using napalm and white phosphorous
in the bombing of cities like Falluja. This
is chemical warfare. It is a very serious international
war crime that had been previously
denied by the United States. The operation is
called “Shake and Bake”. That is an extraordinary
way to describe the fate of human beings,
including civilians.
We also learn today that 170 people have been
discovered in conditions of great distress in the
basement of the security Ministry in Baghdad.
Once again, I and others have drawn attention to
this in recent months. If we here in Dublin knew
about these atrocities how is it that the American
authorities pose as being surprised about it? This
Administration has defended the use of torture,
has outsourced torture and a plane which in the
past has been used for this purpose has passed
through Shannon Airport. There has been no
investigation by the Irish authorities. If anybody
wants to know more about this I suggest they
look at a website and a video called, Falluja: The
Hidden Massacre.
These atrocities have been committed with silence
and complicity because of the utter lack of
journalistic objectivity due to the embedding of
reporters in Iraq. We must now protest. On foot
of this evidence, which is acknowledged and has
now been admitted, a serious war crime has been
committed. I ask that the Leader would urge the
Government to protest to the American authorities
in the name of humanity.