Iraq's deadly legacy

[bit_pattern]

An excellent but highly confronting (all supporters of the Iraq war should watch it!) report into the aftermath of Fallujah.

Rather than going into the inevitable debate about DU, my question to those who say DU is harmless; if not DU, then what is causing this epidemic of birth defects and cancers?

 

[quixotecoyote]

Unknown.

Now, allow me to be the first to point out the dishonesty in the argument "Don't discuss why you're pretty sure my idea is wrong, just imply my idea is right by focusing on the fact you don't know the right answer yet."

 

[bit_pattern]

Unknown.

Now, allow me to be the first to point out the dishonesty in the argument "Don't discuss why you're pretty sure my idea is wrong, just imply my idea is right by focusing on the fact you don't know the right answer yet."

MY idea? Huh? Please point out where I have ever argued for DU being the cause of these problems? I'm open to any explanation, in the past I've been swayed by the DU argument but have also been impressed with the so-called 'sceptic' position too. The only implication I am making is that I'm open to alternative explanations, if they do exist.

 

[Virus]

if not DU, then what is causing this epidemic of birth defects and cancers?

Inbreeding. 50% of marriages in Iraq are between cousins. It's always had shockingly high incidences of birth defects.

 

[bit_pattern]

Inbreeding. 50% of marriages in Iraq are between cousins. It's always had shockingly high incidences of birth defects.

It's good to see the ultranationalists keeping up their commitment to vile racism. You do your side proud!

 

[quixotecoyote]

MY idea? Huh? Please point out where I have ever argued for DU being the cause of these problems? I'm open to any explanation, in the past I've been swayed by the DU argument but have also been impressed with the so-called 'sceptic' position too. The only implication I am making is that I'm open to alternative explanations, if they do exist.

Good to see you're Just Asking Questions.

 

[Hallo Alfie]

The only implication I am making is that I'm open to alternative explanations, if they do exist.

As long as they don't challenge your existing beliefs.

 

[bit_pattern]

Has anyone any comments regarding the vid in the OP or not? Has anyone had the chance to watch it yet?

 

[Lamafarmer]

Do a recap if you're so bored.

 

[bit_pattern]

Do a recap if you're so bored.

Not that bored, but there's a transcript in the OP link if you want. Still, it's worth watching just to see the sheer horror and disfigurement inflicted on these poor children.

 

[Virus]

It's good to see the ultranationalists keeping up their commitment to vile racism. You do your side proud!

Happens to be true. Saddam Hussein was married to his cousin.

One central element of the Iraqi social fabric that most Americans know little about is its astonishing rate of cousin marriage. Indeed, half of all marriages in Iraq are between first or second cousins

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1226/p09s01-coop.html

Highly prevalent in the Arab world as seen on this map:

http://www.consang.net/index.php/Image:Globalcolorsmall.jpg

many Arab countries display some of the highest rates of consanguineous marriages in the world ranging around 20-50% of all marriages, and specifically favoring first cousin marriages with average rates of about 20-30%

Study cites Iraq's rate of consanguineous marriage at 47-60.

TADMOURI, G. O., NAIR, P., OBEID, T., AL ALI, M. T., AL KHAJA, N. & HAMAMY, H. A. 2009. Consanguinity and reproductive health among Arabs. Reprod Health, 6, 17.

 

[JihadJane]

FireGarden is currently making entertaining mincemeat of McHrozni and WildCat on this thread:

Cancer rise in Fallujah

 

[bit_pattern]

Happens to be true. Saddam Hussein was married to his cousin.

As much as it makes me cringe to even take a post of yours seriously; go and watch the video and then come back and explain to everybody how deformities of this scale could possibly be caused by inbreeding, especially when the spike in cases only occurred over the last few years?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1226/p09s01-coop.html

Highly prevalent in the Arab world as seen on this map:

http://www.consang.net/index.php/Image:Globalcolorsmall.jpg

Can you point to similar clusters of birth deformities due to cousins interbreeding? Of course you can't, because it doesn't happen, the only way a sudden cluster of deformities on this scale can happen is because of pre-natal exposure to toxins and your contentions are based on a vile racism on your part and not in any form of actual fact.

 

[The Fool]

Possibly the stress of the warfare causes people to root their cousins...

sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Virus]

Is the Journal of Reproductive Health run by vile racists?

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Virus, I think the point being made that as common as incest may be, it cannot account for the sharp rise in deformities that have been allegedly witnessed.

 

[bit_pattern]

Is the Journal of Reproductive Health run by vile racists?

EDITED

Virus, I think the point being made that as common as incest may be, it cannot account for the sharp rise in deformities that have been allegedly witnessed.

This. He said what I said but much more nicely with less chance of getting me a warning from the mods!

 

[FireGarden]

EDIT: because I agree UW said it nicer.

Virus, I think the point being made that as common as incest may be, it cannot account for the sharp rise in deformities that have been allegedly witnessed.

FireGarden is currently making entertaining mincemeat of McHrozni and WildCat on this thread:

Cancer rise in Fallujah

To summarise my position in that thread...
The change in sex ratio indicates that something happened in 2004. DU is not the only possible cause. But, to some people, it seems to be the only thing which matters.

 

[bit_pattern]

DU is not the only possible cause. But, to some people, it seems to be the only thing which matters.

This is exactly what I was getting at in the OP

 

[Thunder]

Inbreeding. 50% of marriages in Iraq are between cousins. It's always had shockingly high incidences of birth defects.

stupid