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November 09, 2005

ITALIAN TV ACCUSES, US CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN IRAQ

Italian satellite television Rainews24 (http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/default_02112005.asp,watch the video) yesterday revealed in an exclusive that USA allegedly used white phosphorus in November 2004 during the siege of Falluja, the Sunni stronghold in Iraq. Sigfrido Ranucci, the author, reports that American soldiers bombed the city also with Nk-77, a new version of napalm, the deadly substance employed in Vietnam and forbidden from 1980.

Exposure to white phosphorus causes burns and “melts” the body. Images and photos in the reportage show the victims of the American attack. A woman, for example, with the face completely melted by the heat and her clothes intact. The Pentagon denies and states that the death toll amounted to 2,000 terrorists, no civilians were involved.
The video includes the testimony of a Marine, Jeff Englehart, who says that he was told to hit everything that moved. He says he heard through the radio the order of paying attention because white phosphorus was being used. “In military jargon - he adds – it’s called ‘Willy Pete’”.

On the whole, Italian newspapers have been running this piece of news, but not in the same way and with little resonance. Only some left leaning newspapers have given more space to the issue. For instance, the title on the first page of “Il Manifesto” is “Bush used forbidden weapons in Iraq”. Inside there is also an article by Giuliana Sgrena, the journalist kidnapped in Iraq and witness to the killing of the security agent Nicola Calipari. She affirms that some soldiers in front of the camera have recognised their responsibility in the massacre. Not so their superiors. Sgrena’s report can be found in the book “Fuoco amico”(Friendly Fire), edited by Feltrinelli and due to be released from tomorrow.
It is curious that even a Russian television talked about Rainews24 reportage, whilst the most important Italian media have dealt this exclusive rather superficially.

Posted November 9, 2005 08:23 AM

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