Dude, Where's My Country_ - Michael Moore [22]
• Histoplasma Capsulatum: Causes a disease superficially resembling tuberculosis that may cause pneumonia, enlargement of the liver and spleen, anemia, an influenzalike illness, and an acute inflammatory skin disease marked by tender red nodules, usually on the shins. Reactivated infection usually involves the lungs, the brain, spinal membranes, heart, peritoneum, and the adrenals.
• Brucella Melitensis: A bacteria that can cause chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, profuse sweating when at rest, pain in joints and muscles, insomnia, nausea, and damage to major organs.
• Clostridium Perfringens: A highly toxic bacteria that causes gas gangrene. The bacteria produce toxins that move along muscle bundles in the body, killing cells and producing necrotic tissue that is then favorable for further growth of the bacteria itself. Eventually, these toxins and bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause a systemic illness.
In addition, several shipments of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and genetic materials, as well as human and bacterial DNA, were shipped directly to the Iraq Atomic Energy Commission.
Records of U.S. corporate sales of biological material to Iraq before 1985 were “not available.” The Senate report also noted, “These exported biological materials were not attenuated or weakened and were capable of reproduction.” The first two, anthrax and botulinum, were the cornerstone of Iraq’s biological weapons program, all of it made wonderfully possible by the United States of America.
As William Blum reported in The Progressive, “The report noted further that U.S. exports to Iraq included the precursors to chemical-warfare agents, plans for chemical and biological warfare production facilities, and chemical-warhead filling equipment.”
There are numerous other biological materials that could be used in biological weapons that were sent to Iraq during the 1980s and documented in the 1994 Senate Report and through the Centers for Disease Control.
All of the above came from American companies, and were sent with the permission of the United States government during the Reagan/Bush years. Some of the companies include American Type Culture Collection, Alcolac International, Matrix-Churchill Corp., Sullaire Corp., Pure Aire, and Gorman-Rupp.
American companies also were responsible for delivering to Iraq “dual-use” technologies, including high-powered computers, lasers, and other items instrumental to the making of nuclear weapons and their components. As L.A. Weekly reported in 2003, Senate hearings and government records reveal that these companies included:
• Hewlett-Packard—Worked with Iraq from 1985 to 1990, supplying computers for an arm of the Iraqi government working on the scud and nuclear programs. HP also sent computers to two government agencies that oversaw the nuclear and chemical weapons programs. Other sales included radar components and cryptographic equipment.
• AT&T—In 2000 was paid to optimize the products of another company, Huawei. Between 2000 and 2001, Iraq was paying Huawei to spiff up their air defense systems.
• Bechtel—From 1988 to 1990, it was helping the Iraqis build a giant petrochemical plant, hand in hand with an Iraqi company known for its military ties.
• Caterpillar—Helped Iraq with construction of their nuclear program in the 1980s through the sale of $10 million worth of tractors.
• DuPont—In 1989, sold $30,000 worth of specially engineered oil to Iraq which was used in their nuclear program.
• Kodak—Also in 1989, sold $172,000 in equipment that was used in Iraq’s missile programs.
• Hughes Helicopter—Sold sixty helicopters to Iraq in 1983, which the Iraqis modified for military use.
In all, from 1985 to 1990, the Department of Commerce approved the sale of $1.5 billion worth of dual-use technologies, from chemical and biological components to computers and equipment for conventional and nuclear weapons systems. In the same period $308 million worth of aircraft, helicopters and associated parts were also transferred to Iraq.
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