Friday, June 17, 2005

U.S. using napalm in Iraq

Actually not napalm, but MK77 bombs, which are very similar -- and possibly in violating of international law in doing so. Plus, we're lying about it to our must important ally in Iraq:

Despite persistent rumours of injuries among Iraqis consistent with the use of incendiary weapons such as napalm, Adam Ingram, the Defence minister, assured Labour MPs in January that US forces had not used a new generation of incendiary weapons, codenamed MK77, in Iraq.

But Mr Ingram admitted to the Labour MP Harry Cohen in a private letter obtained by The Independent that he had inadvertently misled Parliament because he had been misinformed by the US. "The US confirmed to my officials that they had not used MK77s in Iraq at any time and this was the basis of my response to you," he told Mr Cohen. "I regret to say that I have since discovered that this is not the case and must now correct the position....

The confirmation that US officials misled British ministers led to new questions last night about the value of the latest assurances by the US. Mr Cohen said there were rumours that the firebombs were used in the US assault on the insurgent stronghold in Fallujah last year, claims denied by the US. He is tabling more questions seeking assurances that the weapons were not used against civilians.

Lying to our co-combatants: what a great way to encourage others to join us in the Iraq struggle! Disdaining international law may play well in Wingnutistan, but it is nigh disastrous in terms of public diplomacy.

Hat tip: RM

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