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[casi] Najaf mass grave media story likely propaganda from Shiite opposition group.



A photo from the usinfo website is one that as been used to a number of media news stories.  In 
purports to be the exhumation of a mass grave near Najaf that is usually described as containing 72 
sets of remains.
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/gallery/iraq-2003/0505mon3.htm

However as this article makes clear the organisation behind this event was the Supreme Council for 
Islamic Revolution In Iraq.  A Shiite opposition group that was based in Iran during the previous 
regime.
http://www.greeleytrib.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030505/IRAQ/305050010
In other words, it is not a excavation that is being driven by locals or relatives rather an exile 
group vying for political power and influence.

There are some indications the scene is not bonafide, upon decomposition human skeletal remains do 
not consist of much in terms of either size or weight.  While many of the white bundles seem to be 
considerably more bulky than could be accounted for by skeleton and clothes.  Although not nearly 
so as the infamous photo of Ann Clywd posing in from white sand bags at Hilla  - 
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/gallery/iraq-2003/0602mon1.htm (which the academic crowd 
here seem strangely reluctant to discuss or denounce).  In addition in the Najaf photo it appears 
that the bundles are quite heavy, consistent with being mainly filled with earth, this can be seen 
by both the manner and effort being used by a man who is moving one of them.

There are, of course, no actual human remains in sight.

These white bundles appear to have been recyled at another site.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/iraqwar/story/0,4395,187250,00.html.

Unlike the Ann Clwyd photo, it is impossible to completely rule out the possibility that these 
bundles do contain human remains.  But given the circumstances it is not improbable to assume this 
is a propaganda story.  It would perhaps be helpful if those academics who really do claim to have 
Iraqi interests at heart would direct their energies to having politicians held accountable who 
participate in staged photo shoots with white sandbags in order to justify their military attack on 
another country on humanitarian grounds.

Tom Young







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