| 15. �We have about 60% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its' population. In this situation we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world benefaction. We should cease to talk about such vague and unreal objectives as human rights, the raising of living standards and democratisation. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better." - George Kennan, former Head of the U.S. State Department Policy Planning Staff, Document PPS23, 24th February 1948 16. "I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my lifetime." -Albert Einstein, 1947 17. "The target suffered a terminal illness before a firing squad in Baghdad." - CIA officer testifying to U.S. Senate hearing, after bloody CIA aided Ba'th Party coup overthrew Iraqi Prime Minister Abdel Kassem, 1963 18. "Strikes at population targets (per se) are likely not only to create a counterproductive wave of revulsion abroad and at home, but greatly to increase the risk of enlarging the war with China and the Soviet Union. Destruction of locks and dams, however - if handled right - might offer promise. It should be studied. Such destruction does not kill or drown people. By shallow-flooding the rice, it leads after time to widespread starvation (more than a million) unless food is provided - which we could offer to do 'at the conference table'." - John McNaughton, U.S. State Department Vietnam policy, as quoted in 'The Mentality of the Backroom Boys.' Article by Noam Chomsky, 1973 19. "The U.S. must carry out some act somewhere in the world which shows its determination to continue to be a world power." - Henry Kissinger, post-Vietnam blues, as quoted in The Washington Post, April 1975 20. "It would not have been possible for a political party to be more committed to a national home for the Jews in Palestine than was Labour." - Harold Wilson, former British Labour Party Prime Minister, 1981 21. "One hundred nations in the UN have not agreed with us on just about everything that's come before them, where we're involved, and it didn't upset my breakfast at all." - Ronald Reagan, former U.S. President, basking in the triumph that was the U.S. invasion of Grenada, 1983 22. Q. "Mr. President, have you approved of covert activity to destablise the present government of Nicaragua?" A. "Well, no, we're supporting them, the - oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, I'm sorry, I was thinking of El Salvador, because of the previous, when you said Nicaragua. Here again, this is something upon which the national security interests, I just - I will not comment." - Ronald Reagan, former U.S. President, Washington press conference, February 13th, 1983, as quoted by John Pilger in 'Heroes' 23. "After seeing 'RAMBO' last night, I know what to do the next time this happens." - Ronald Reagan, former U.S. President, as reported by Daily Express, July 2nd, 1985 24. "Aerosol DU (Depleted Uranium) exposures to soldiers on the battlefield could be significant with potential radiological and toxicological effects. [...] Under combat conditions, the most exposed individuals are probably ground troops that re-enter a battlefield following the exchange of armour-piercing munitions. [...] We are simply highlighting the potential for levels of DU exposure to military personnel during combat that would be unacceptable during peacetime operations. [...DU is..]... a low level alpha radiation emitter which is linked to cancer when exposures are internal, [and] chemical toxicity causing kidney damage. [...] Short term effects of high doses can result in death, while long term effects of low doses have been linked to cancer. [...] Our conclusion regarding the health and environmental acceptability of DU penetrators assume both controlled use and the presence of excellent health physics management practices. Combat conditions will lead to the uncontrolled release of DU. [...] The conditions of the battlefield, and the long term health risks to natives and combat veterans may become issues in the acceptability of the continued use of DU kinetic penetrators for military applications." - Excerpts from the July 1990 Science and Applications International Corporation report: ' Kinetic Energy Penetrator Environment and Health Considerations', as included in Appenix D - U.S. Army Armaments, Munitions and Chemical Command report: 'Kinetic Energy Penetrator Long Term Strategy Study, July 1990' These documents state clearly and equivocally that the U.S. army was well aware of the radioactive and toxic dangers of Depleted Uranium ammunition long before the first shots of the war were fired. 25. "We do not have any defense treaties with Kuwait, and there are no special defense or security commitments to Kuwait." - Margaret Tutweiller, U.S. State Department spokeswoman, 24th July 1990, nine days before Iraq's invasion of Kuwait References free.freespeech.org/americanstateterrorism/ August 22, 2002 Bulatlat.com Back to Main Page |