The Fire This Time: U.S. War Crimes in the Gulf

The former U.S. attorney general, an internationally renowned human rights activist, traveled through Iraq during February 1991, gathering evidence of alleged American war crimes. Despite assurances from the Pentagon and allied leaders that everything possible was being done to avoid civilian casualties, Clark determined that the U.S.-led bombardment was a deliberate campaign against Iraqi civilians meant to deprive them of food, water, medical supplies and the wherewithal to resuscitate their economy. Clark argues--unconvincingly--that the U.S. Constitution was grossly violated, that 60% of our troops were duped ``people of color'' and most of the others were ``poor whites,'' that U.S. warplanes killed 1500 civilians in one Baghdad bomb shelter, and that the American media conspired to persuade the public of the righteousness of the ``deeply immoral'' conduct of the war by U.S. forces. Saddam Hussein's conduct is not addressed. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Dec.)