Bombing (Information):

      The US/UK has been bombing Iraq more or less continuously since the Gulf War began (200,000+ sorties). Since December 20, 1998, there have been over 6,000 sorties on some 400 targets, at a cost to the US taxpayer of $1,000,000,000 per year (which equals the cost of putting an additional social worker/teacher in every middle and high school in the United States). Our group visited the sites of four bombing attacks:

1) The Al-Ameryia Shelter: Attacked during the Gulf War by two-laser guided bombs five minutes apart. Over 1200 women and children died; there were 14 survivors. Reconnaissance aircraft observed the shelter for three days prior to the attack, and the fresh air vent was targeted. The first bomb created an opening for the second, more powerful bomb. The blast temperature was 4000 degrees F; some children were incinerated and others were boiled alive when internal water pipes burst open. The US government claimed that the building housed military personnel and equipment, but no direct evidence was presented.

2) The Al-Rashid Hotel: On 1/17/93, a cruise missile hit just outside the entrance of the Al-Rashid Hotel. According to concierge (who was present at the time), CNN set up a camera about 30 minutes prior to the attack and then vacated the premises. This concept of "advance warning" was confirmed by a high UN official, who stated that the UN was often "warned off" certain areas. This belies the US claim that bombing raids target anti-aircraft and radar sites that are attacked immediately when aircraft are targeted. At the Al-Rashid, Amira Mekho, a desk clerk, was killed just after emerging from shelter.

3) Baasheqa Village: On 4/30/99, cluster bombs were dropped in a desert area outside Baasheqa village, and a shepherd, Ahmad Jirgis Ayyoub (40), his father Jirgis Ayyoub Sultan (70), and 4 of his sons, Lukman (15), Mohamad (12), Sultan (7) and Murthadi (3) were killed. The aircraft repeatedly passed over the area, and all livestock were also killed. Cluster bombs are anti-personnel weapons and are not typically used against hardened military targets. There was no evidence whatsoever of any military targets in the area, which is an open desert region.

4) Bahzani Village: On 8/23/99 (8 days prior to our visit there) two construction workers, Mufawak Attoo (23) and Shakri Khadher (24), were killed by cluster bombs. They were engaged in house construction, with the house open-roofed and partially completed, when the attack occurred. The house is in a remote area with no obvious military targets.

These photographs were taken in Iraq in August and September of 1999. Unless otherwise noted, the photographer was William J. Thomson. These photographs are copyrighted, and you have permission to use them (at no charge) for any nonprofit purpose related to relieving the suffering of children in Iraq. In any published use, please credit the pictures to "William J. Thomson" or other source, as noted. For other use, or if you need a particular picture at a different resolution, please contact the photographer directly at wthomson@umich.edu.