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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 ____________________________________________________________ Get advanced SPAM filtering on Webmail or POP Mail ... Get Lycos Mail! http://login.mail.lycos.com/r/referral?aid=27005 _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk