Consequences of War and Militarism Martin Donohoe Outline

Consequences of War and Militarism Martin Donohoe

Outline n The history and epidemiology of war n Nuclear weapons n Chemical weapons n Biological weapons

Outline n n n Economic and environmental consequences of militarism and war Health consequences of militarism and war Contemporary conflicts n n Afghanistan, Iraq, “War on terror” Solutions

History of War n Violent conflict ubiquitous in the animal kingdom: Interspecies conflict – food, territory n Intraspecies conflict – food, territory, mates (usually not directly fatal) n n Violence among non-human primates Gorilla infanticide n Chimpanzee killing bands n

History of war n 10, 000 yrs ago – agriculture n n Stable populations, division of labor, warrior class 3500 yrs ago – bronze weapons and armor 2200 yrs ago – iron 1900 yrs ago – widespread use of horses

History of war n n Ninth Century China - bombs developed Thirteenth Century China – rockets n n Forgotten until the 19 th Century 1783 – Balloon Montgolfier brothers n Prussian general JCG Heyne – used for bombing n

History of War n n 1903 – Wright brothers/Kitty Hawk – airplane 20 th Century – nuclear submarines, predator drones, weaponization of space

History of War n n Belief that each new invention would eliminate warfare Instead, increased casualties, killing at a distance

Epidemiology of Warfare n Deaths in war: 17 th Century = 19/million population n 18 th Century = 19/million population n 19 th Century = 11/million population n 20 th Century = 183/million population n n Increasing casualties to civilians n 85 -90% in 20 th Century (vs. 10% late 19 th Century)

War Deaths, 1945 -2000

Legacies of Colonial Exploitation n Christopher Columbus’ log entry upon meeting the Arawaks of the Bahamas: “They…brought us…many…things…They willingly traded everything they owned…They do not bear arms…They would make fine servants…With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want. ”

Legacies of Colonial Exploitation n Winston Churchill (speaking in favor of RAF’s “experimental” bombing of Iraqis in 1920 s, which killed 9, 000 people with 97 tons of bombs): “I am strongly in favor of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes to spread a lively terror…against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment”

Legacies of Colonial Exploitation n Cecil Rhodes (Rhodesia, Rhodes Scholarship, De. Beers Mining Company): “We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labour that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods produced in our factories. ”

Contemporary Wars n 250 wars in the 20 th Century n Incidence of war rising since 1950 n Most conflicts within poor states n 27 separate civil wars currently underway n 19 involve U. S. -supplied weapons

Contemporary Wars n n 72 million lives lost in 20 th Century wars, another 52 million through genocides WW II: first war with more battle deaths than deaths from other causes, such as accidents, disease, and infections

Vietnam War n n n US dropped the equivalent of one 500 lb. bomb on every person in Vietnam War: 1. 5 to 3 million Vietnamese casualties; 58, 000 American n More US soldiers died of suicide after Vietnam than died in combat during the war. Gulf War I: U. S. planted one land mine for every Iraqi citizen

Contemporary Wars n n Gulf War I: US planted one land mine for every Iraqi citizen 310, 000 direct war-related deaths in 2000 (0. 5% of worldwide mortality); indirect deaths much larger

Wars Promoted Through Militarism Military buildups n Exceptionalism n Imperialism n Glorification of war n Unrealistic expectations n

Consequences of War n n n Deaths, injuries, psychological sequelae Collapse of health care system affecting those with acute and chronic illnesses Famine

Consequences of War n Environmental degradation n Refugees, migrants, internally-displaced persons n Increasing poverty and debt n All lead to recurrent cycles of violence

Atomic Weapons - History n Hiroshima, August 6, 1945 “The day that humanity started taking its final exam” – Buckminster Fuller n 15 kiloton bomb, 140, 000 deaths n n Nagasaki, August 9, 1945 n 22 kiloton bomb, 70, 000 casualties

The Hiroshima Bomb

Atomic Explosion

Atomic Weapons – Other Victims n n Hundreds of thousands of hibakusha – atomic bomb survivors 1054 U. S. nuclear tests since 1940 s, 331 in atmosphere

Atomic Weapons – Other Victims n n 80, 000 cancers (15, 000 fatal) in US citizens as a result of fallout from atmospheric testing n NCI/CDC Thousands of illnesses and deaths, higher CA risk in 600, 000 former employees - DOE

Atomic Weapons Today n n Approximately 23, 360 nuclear weapons at 11 sites in 14 countries (1/2 active or operationallydeployed) n Down from over 71, 000 at height of Cold War 5, 200 active U. S. warheads today (more than ½ on hair-trigger alert); 8, 000 in Russia n Several thousand megatons (100, 000 Hiroshimas)

Atomic Weapons Today n Vastly redundant arsenal n 150 -200 weapons adequate to destroy all major urban centers in Russia

Atomic Weapons Today Accidental intermediate-sized launch of weapons from a single Russian submarine would immediately kill 6. 8 million Americans in 8 cities

Nuclear Weapons – Oops! n n n Pentagon: 32 nuclear weapons accidents since 1950 GAO: 233 Since 1950, 10 nuclear weapons lost and never recovered n All laying on seabed, potentially leaking radioactivity

Effects of a Nuclear Explosion n Immediate: n Vaporized by thermal radiation n Crushed by blast wave n Burned and suffocated by firestorm

Effects of a Nuclear Explosion n Intermediate: Suffering, painful deaths n Health care personnel/resources overwhelmed n Famine n Refugees n Devastated transportation infrastructure n

Effects of a Nuclear Explosion n Late effects: Cancer n Psychological trauma (PTSD, anxiety, depression) n nuclear winter (mass starvation due to disruption of agricultural, transportation, industrial and health care systems) n

Effects of a 20 megaton nuclear explosion n Ground zero - 2 miles: n n Within 1/100 second fireball hotter than sun; everything vaporized 2 - 4 miles: 25 psi pressures; 650 mph winds n Buildings ripped apart and leveled n

Effects of a 20 megaton nuclear explosion n 4 - 10 miles: 7 – 10 psi; 200 mph winds n Sheet metal melts; concrete buildings heavily damaged (all others leveled) n n 16 miles: 100 mph winds, firestorm, T = 1400° C n 100% mortality n

Effects of a 20 megaton nuclear explosion n 21 miles: 2 psi; 100 mph winds n Shattered glass, flying debri n n 29 miles: n n 3° burns over all exposed skin 40 miles: n Retinal burns blind all who witness explosion

Effects of a 20 megaton nuclear explosion over Boston (1998 study) n Death toll: n 1, 000 within minutes n 1, 800, 000 survivors: 1, 100, 000 fatally injured n 500, 000 with major injuries n 200, 000 without injuries n

Types of Injuries n n n Burns Blindings Deafenings PTX Fxs Shrapnel wounds

Radiation Sickness n n n Very high dose: cerebral edema, N/V/D, speech and gait difficulties, convulsions, coma, death within 1 -2 days Medium doses: N/V/D → resolves → recurrent hematemesis, bloody D → majority die Low doses: BM failure, infections, bleeding, sores, ± death

Effects on health professionals n 70% killed or fatally wounded n 15% injured n < 1000 survive

Effects on health care system n n Most major hospitals destroyed EMS system debilitated No X-ray machines, electricity, water, antibiotics or other meds, blood/plasma, bandages 2000 burn unit beds in US (100 per major city) – essentially destroyed

Effects on Health Care System n 1500 patients/doctor n 10 min/pt n 4 hours sleep/noc n 2 weeks to see all injured

Ultimate Outcomes n Boston (pop. 2. 8 million in 1998) n > 2. 5 million dead after one month n More than 6 x as many Americans as died in WW II

Health hazards of the Nuclear Cycle n n n Ecosystem degradation: e. g. , Bikini Island Uranium mining: 5 -fold increase in lung cancer Depleted uranium: increased stillbirths, birth defects, childhood leukemias, other cancers in Southern Iraq n Possible increase in lung CA in U. S. soldiers (data sparse) n

Nuclear Waste Disposal n On-site storage: n 118 commercial reactors n 10 weapons plants n 37 research reactors

Nuclear Waste Disposal n Skull Valley, Goshute Indian Reservation, Utah Private fuel storage consortium n Temporary storage of 44, 000 tons of highlevel nuclear waste n Bribes to tribes; environmental injustice n n Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, New Mexico n Defense Dept. waste

Nuclear Waste Disposal – Yucca Mountain n On DOE land claimed by Western Shoshone Nation under the Ruby Valley Treaty of 1863 100 miles from Las Vegas Near aquifer and earthquake fault

Nuclear Waste Disposal – Yucca Mountain n n Est. 100, 000 shipments of 70, 000 – 120, 000 tons of waste over 25 yrs Coming within ½ mile of 50 million Americans Est. 200 -350 accidents Nuclear roulette Unlikely to occur – other options being considered

Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear Power Plants n 104 plants in US n n Aging, equipment failures (8 from 3/00 -4/01 → shutdowns) Nuclear power industry receives billions in taxpayer subsidies 435 plants worldwide (generate 16% of planet’s electricity) 60 plants in Russia n ? Condition, safety

Nuclear Power n n Supply of uranium for fission to run out by 2050 Alternate sources: MOX (mixed oxide) fuel (reprocessed spent fuel – plutonium and uranium) n Breeder reactors – make more fuel (plutonium) than they consume n Fission – currently impractical n

Nuclear Power Plant Accidents n n Three Mile Island (1979) n 50, 000 to 100, 000 excess deaths Chernobyl, USSR, 1986 - nuclear power plant explosion n 200 times the radiation of Hiroshima + Nagasaki n 25 -100 died immediately, up to 1, 000 injured acutely, NCI estimates 10 -75 K thyroid cancers (other estimates much lower) n Some estimates as high as almost 1 million deaths n NY Acad Sci, 2010

Chernobyl Higher risk of neural tube defects and childhood leukemia among those living near nuclear power plants n Anxiety a major problem n Ukraine still spends 6% of its GDP each year on Chernobyl-related matters n

Nuclear Power Plants n n n For every US plant that has its license renewed, 12 additional cancer deaths (NRC) n Plus any deaths from accidents, non-routine releases, high level waste and spent fuel Nuclear power industry receives billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies Precautionary principle

Nuclear Terrorism n Attack on nuclear power plant or other nuclear installation n n 47% of nuclear plants failed to repel mock terrorist attacks conducted by the NRC in the 1990 s Dirty bomb n n Potential tens to hundreds of thousands of deaths, billions of dollars of damage, chaos Numerous radiation sources left over from Cold War in post-Soviet countries

Nuclear Terrorism n n n Collapse of Soviet Union – 15, 000 nuclear warheads and enough highly-enriched uranium and plutonium to make 60, 000 more More than 90% of Russia’s fissile materials are located in 171 buildings, only 11 of which have been fully secured 175 cases of nuclear trafficking from 1993 – 2001 (NRC)

Nuclear Terrorism n n n Reports of weapons missing from Soviet arsenal Non-proliferation efforts, including the DOE’s Nuclear Cities Initiative, get a fraction of 1% of the defense budget, further cuts planned The Nth Country experiment (1964): 3 science post-docs with no nuclear know-how designed a working atom bomb

Chemical Weapons n n n 428 BC – Athenians and Spartans burned wax, pitch and sulfur Da. Vinci – arsenic and sulfur shells WW I n n n Italians vs. Ethiopians Japanese vs. Chinese Germans vs. Allies n n Fritz Haber – chlorine gas 91, 000 deaths and 1. 3 million injuries

Chemical Weapons n n Egypt vs. South Yemen (1963 -7) Iran/Iraq War (1980 s) Gulf War (versus Kurds, ? Others) n Gulf War Syndrome (real per Congressionallymandated scientific panel, 2008) 1995 Tokyo subway attack by Aum Shrinko cult using sarin n 12 dead, 5000 injured or incapacitated

Types of Chemical Weapons n Nerve gasses / paralytics E. g. , sarin, VX n S/S: paralysis (incl. resp. muscles), headache, dizziness, N/V n Rx: ± gas masks, pretreatment with pyridostigmine, decontamination, antidotes (atropine, pralidoxime, diazepam, tropicamide) n

Types of Chemical Weapons n Blistering agents: E. g. , sulphur mustard n S/S: burns, blindness, pulmonary toxicity, BM suppression, N/V/D n Rx: decontamination, analgesia, pulmonary and eye care n

Types of Chemical Weapons n Pulmonary toxicants E. g. , chlorine, phosgene n S/S: pneumonitis, laryngeal spasm, pulmonary edema, ARDS n Rx: O 2, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, ? ibuprofen, ? acetylcysteine n

Chemical Weapons: Vietnam and Napalm

Chemical Weapons: Vietnam and Napalm

Chemical Weapons: Vietnam and Napalm

Chemical Weapons n n 1972 Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention prohibits development, production, and stockpiling US and Russia still have significant stockpiles

Other Chemical Weapons: Tear gas n Use in civil and political unrest n Causes eye, skin and pulmonary toxicity, N/V, photophobia and headache, trauma due to blast n Rx: wash skin, flush eyes, IVF, humidified O 2, bronchodilators prn, ±prophylactic antibiotics

Other Chemical Weapons: Pepper Spray n n n Derived from cayenne peppers (contains 10 -15% oleoresin capsicum) 1. 5 -2 million Scoville unit heat rating Jalapeño pepper = 2500 -5000 Scoville units Habañero pepper (world’s hottest) = 300, 000 Scoville units Use in civil and political unrest

Other Chemical Weapons n n n Calmatives: mind-altering or sleepinducing weapons (benzo-, SSRI-, and anesthetic derivatives) Cramp-inducing agents Stink bombs (“? Race specific? ”) Colored smoke as an obscurant Crowd control vs use in warfare US pilot amphetamine use

Biological Weapons - History n n Sixth Century BC: Assyrians poison wells with rye ergot 300 BC: Greeks pollute wells Later: Romans and Persians, Classical, Medieval and Renaissance periods, US Civil War (General Johnson at Vicksburg) 14 th Century: Tatars catapulting plagueinfested corpses

Biological Weapons - History n n Koch’s postulates: anthrax – first linkage of a specific disease with a specific pathogen Louis Pasteur: anthrax and cholera vaccines

Biological Weapons - History n n Sir Jeffrey Amherst (French and Indian Wars - smallpox): “You would do well to try to inoculate the Indians, by means of blankets, … to extirpate this execrable race” WW I: Cholera, plague, glanders, anthrax

Biological Weapons – WW II n n Unit 731, Manchuria, Shiro Ishii British “Operation Vegetarian” (anthrax cakes / Germany) US military personnel received typhoid, smallpox, yellow fever and tetanus vaccines Those who refused subject to court martial n c. f. , Gulf War – pyridostigmine, botulism vaccine

Biological Weapons – WW II n Unlicensed yellow fever vaccine contaminated with hepatitis B n 330, 000 infections n 51, 000 cases of symptomatic hep B n Long term outcomes good

Biological Weapons Post WWII n Swerdlosk n Zimbabwe n False alarms

Biological Weapons Today n n 17 countries possess (+ Al Qaeda? ) US role in supplying other nations: n e. g. , 1985 -1989: US companies sold to Iraq: n n Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum, Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella melitensis, Clostsridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, and E. coli Despite evidence of use of chemical weapons against Kurds

Biological Weapons Today n n n 1972 Biological Weapons Protocol: signed by 158 nations Lacks adequate enforcement mechanisms US has rejected enforcement (wary of foreign inspectors discovering military secrets and/or trade secrets of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies)

Biological Weapons - Agents Anthrax Brucellosis Cholera Glanders Pneumonic plague Tularemia Q Fever Smallpox Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (e. g. , Ebola) Botulism Staph enterotoxin B Ricin Mycxotoxins

Biological Weapons Today n n Genetic weapons – targeted at specific ethnic groups 1999: FBI – “at least once a day a politician, school, abortion clinic, or other controversial person or institution receives an envelope from a dissident containing a powder and a note announcing a lethal dose of anthrax”

Biological Weapons Today n Use, along with chemical weapons, in “The Drug War”: n Fusarium oxysporum fungus to eradicate coca pants in Columbia; Fusarium oxysporum and Pleaspora papaveracea fungus to eradicate opium poppies in Central Asia n ? Marijuana n Food crops also destroyed n US, UN Drug Control Program, others

Biological Weapons Today n Quarantine Issues: Quarantine versus Isolation n National versus foreign outbreaks / border control n Adverse consequences – increased risk of disease transmission in quarantined population, violence, mistrust of government, ethnic bias n

Smallpox n n n DNA virus; decimated native American populations; eradicated by WHO vaccination campaign in 1972; genome sequenced ? Only remaining viral stocks at CDCP and in Siberia? WHO Executive Board recommended retaining stores

Smallpox n n n Incubation period 7 -17 days (avg. = 12) Spread by droplet infection; highly contagious Symptoms: abrupt onset of F/HA/myalgias → non-specific erythematous rash (most prominent on face and extremities, simultaneous; varicella – most prominent on trunk, successive waves) → MSOF → death

Smallpox n n n Dx: clinical, EM of vesicular fluid Rx: isolation, post-exposure vaccination, supportive care, ? antivirals 30 % fatality rate

Smallpox

Smallpox Vaccination n n n Vaccinia US ended in 1972 Waning (? negligible) immunity Effects: local reaction. Lymphadenopathy Side effects: postvaccinial encephalitis (1/300, 000), progressive vaccinia; eczema vaccinatum, generalized vaccinia Vaccinia immune globulin may modulate

Smallpox Vaccination n Acambis and subcontractor Baxter Int’l. $428 million contract to produce 155 million doses of smallpox vaccine by the end of 2002 Would bring total to 286 million (enough for every American) Fed govt has ordered 209 million doses from a British company

Smallpox Vaccination n n Current recommendation: isolation and vaccination / VIG for close contacts Vaccination of all US citizens not feasible: Inadequate supplies n Several hundred deaths n ? Diversion of resources from usual childhood vaccines n ? vaccinate health professionals, public servants n Infectivity, disability, workman’s comp issues n

Anthrax n Bacillus anthracis, aerobic, G+, sporeforming rod n Zoonosis n Invisible and odorless when aerosolized

Anthrax n n 1979: accidental release at Swerdlosk (USSR): 250 cases, 100 deaths, town abandoned due to contamination 1997: Aum Shrinko cult attempted aerosol dispersal – unsuccessful

Anthrax n n Est. 50 kg release over urban center of 5 million people would sicken 250 K and kill 100 K 100 kg release would have the same # of casualties as a hydrogen bomb explosion

Cutaneous Anthrax n n n 2000 cases/yr worldwide Due to exposure to infected animals / animal products Epidemic in Zimbabwe, 1989 -1995: 10, 000 cases

Cutaneous Anthrax n n n Incubation period 1 -10 days (avg. = 5) Pruritic macule or papule day 1 Round ulcer day 2 Black eschar follows; resolves over 1 -2 weeks Painful lymphadenopathy

Cutaneous Anthrax n n n Antibiotic Rx (doxy, cipro, pcn) decreases likelihood of systemic disease Fatality rate 20% without antibiotics; rare with antibiotics Following 9/11: 11 cases

Cutaneous Anthrax - Ulcer

Cutaneous Anthrax - Eschar

Gastrointestinal Anthrax n n From ingestion of poorly cooked, infected meat Oropharyngeal ulcers – LAN – edema – sepsis Terminal ileal / cecal lesion - N/V/bloody D/acute abdomen/ascites/sepsis Rx: Abx (doxy, cipro, pcn), supportive care

Inhalational Anthrax n Stage I: n begins 2 -43 days post-exposure n F/dyspnea/cough/HA/V/Ch/weakness/AP/CP n Lasts a few hours to a few days

Inhalational Anthrax n Stage II: F/dyspnea/diaphoresis/shock n CXR with widened mediastinum due to lymphadenopathy n ±pleural effusions n 50% develop hemorrhagic meningitis – meningismus, delirium and obtundation n Rapid progression to cyanosis, hypotension and death n

Inhalational Anthrax Widened Mediastinum

Inhalational Anthrax

Inhalational Anthrax n n n Dx: blood cultures, XR/CT, post-mortem; serology not helpful Case fatality rate approx. 50% Rx: post-exposure antibiotics (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, penicillin) n Supportive care n

Anthrax Vaccine n n 3 or 4 dose series US armed service members Side effects: HA 0. 4%, local rxn 3. 6%, mild systemic SEs in 1% Manufacturer = Bioport n Contract to produce 4. 6 million doses for the DOD

Anthrax Vaccine n Pre/post exposure vaccination n Improved vaccine under development n ? Groups to vaccinate?

Anthrax – The Band

Non-lethal weapons n n High-power microwaves (crammed into cruise missiles, discharge a huge energy pulse to damage electronics) Soft bombs n E. g. , carbon fiber showers to short circuit electrical power grids (used in former Yugoslavia and in Gulf War I)

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Acoustic weapons Acoustic bullets n Curdler unit – shrieks, clangs n Infrasound – penetrates most buildings and vehicles, causes nausea, diarrhea, disorientation, internal organ damage and even death n “Squawk box” – intolerable ultrasound pulses n

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Optical weapons n n Photic driver – ultrasound plus stroboscopic infrared flasher to penetrate closed eyelids and cause seizures Psycho-correction devices – send subliminal visual and aural messages

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Barrier Weapons: n n n Obscurants: n n Slick coatings – slippery like ice Sticky foam (used by US in Somalia) Colored smoke – felt to cause more psychological panic than white smoke Markers: n n n Fluorescent powder visible under UV light Sponge grenades impregnated with infrared dye To mark targets

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Riot Control n n Invisible tear gas Electrical: Police or soldier’s jacket which jolts anyone who touches it n Cattle prods (malicious and accidental use by civilians) n

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Biotechnical: n n n Biodegrading microbes (to destroy fuel) Genetic code alterations (to create less-than-lethal but long-term disablements, perhaps for generations, thereby creating a societal burden) Neuro-implants for behavior modification Project Agile (1996) – race-specific stink bombs Pheromones (to impair human and animal reproduction; mark individuals for assaults by killer bees, other animals or pests)

“Non-lethal” Weapons Proposed and Under Development n Holograms: God/gods/other religious figures or symbols n Soldier forces n Death, dead comrades n n Others

Other WMDs n Small arms n Land mines n Cluster bombs

Health Care System Preparedness for Weapons of Mass Destruction n Congressional panel estimates > 50% chance of terrorist act involving WMDs by 2013 ERs/hospital systems inadequately prepared Funds low

Health Care System Preparedness for Weapons of Mass Destruction n US public health / emergency care system already in disarray 80% of states facing budget cuts or holdbacks Medicaid over budget in 23 states

Costs of Militarization n n US: over ½ of discretionary tax dollars spent on the military US military budget represents 43% of total world military budget ($1. 5 trillion in 2009) Increased spending on nuclear weapons Inadequate spending to prevent the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons

2009 Federal Budget $2. 65 trillion

Missile Defense Shield The Militarization of Space n Star Wars program proceeding, despite: Astronomical cost – est. $100 billion n Strong opposition by scientific community n Spectacular failures in 2/4 tests, despite highly structured conditions n n Abandonment of ABM Treaty by Bush administration

Missile Defense Shield The Militarization of Space n n “Shield” or very porous umbrella Easily overwhelmed and fooled by inexpensive decoys No protection against internal accidents or terrorists bringing weapon onto US soil or “dirty bomb” Proposed use of moon for spy observatories and weapons

Dwight Eisenhower “The problem in defense spending is to figure out how far you should go without destroying from within that which you are trying to protect from without”

Meanwhile. . . Social Injustices Abound n n n 51 million Americans lack health insurance 25% of US children live in poverty Homelessness, public educational system a shambles, increasing jail populations, AIDS, etc. Mass extinction, global warming 2. 5 billion people worldwide live in abject poverty (earn less than $500 per year, lack access to clean drinking water)

Environmental Consequences of Militarization n World’s single largest polluter n 8% of global air pollution n 2 -11% of raw material use n Almost all high and low level radioactive waste

The US Military n n Owns an amount of land equal to North Korea or Kentucky (25 million acres) Much of it polluted n n Cleanup cost estimates in the hundreds of billions 2000 abandoned firing ranges n n E. g. , Kahoolawe 60 people killed by unexploded ordnance since WWII

Health Costs of Militarization n 3 hours of world arms spending = annual WHO budget ½ day of world arms spending = immunization for all the world’s children 3 days of US arms spending = amount spent on health, education and welfare programs for US children in one year

Health Costs of Militarization n n 3 weeks of world arms spending = primary health care for all in poor countries, including safe drinking water and full immunizations Brain drain: 2/3 of US scientists work in military-industrial complex (although much work has widespread applicability)

Skewed Priorities n n The world spends $1. 6 trillion/year on military goods and services For 25% of this, we could: Eliminate starvation and malnutrition n Provide shelter for all n Eliminate illiteracy n Provide clean and safe water n Prevent soil erosion n

Skewed Priorities Prevent global warming n Stop deforestation n Aid all refugees n Retire developing nations’ debt n Provide clean, safe energy (through efficiency and renewables) n

Skewed Priorities Prevent acid rain n Fix the ozone hole n Stabilize world population n Provide basic universal health care and AIDS control n Eliminate nuclear weapons and land mines n

Dwight Eisenhower “Every gun that is made, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed”

Dwight Eisenhower “This world is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. ”

Martin Luther King “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. ”

Military Spending n n n US: ½ of discretionary tax dollars spent on the military US military budget represents 34% of total world military budget ($1. 5 trillion in 2009) Iraq War costs could reach $2 -3 trillion

Arms Exports

Arms Imports

Economic Cost of War, U. S.

US Foreign Aid n n US ranks 21 st in the world in foreign aid as a percentage of GDP (0. 16%, versus UN recommended 0. 07%) Foreign Aid: 1/3 military n 1/3 economic n 1/3 food and development n n US world’s second largest arms exporter

Top Pentagon Prime Contractors Fiscal Year 2009 n n n Lockheed Martin Corp. Northrop Grumman Corp. Boeing Corp. Raytheon Corp. General Dynamics Corp. KBR, Inc.

September 11, 2001

World Trade Center Bombing n n 3300 fatalities - foreign nationals outnumbered Americans Environmental health consequences unknown: n n 300 -400 tons asbestos 130, 000 gallons of transformer oil contaminated with PCBS Lead, sulfuric acid, silicon Fine dust particles

September 11, 2001 n n Pentagon: 286 casualties Pennsylvania: approximately 100 casualties

The War on Terror (The War on Afghanistan, Iraq, and ? ) n “May last 50 or more years” – Cheney Afghanistan: n n n Ruled by repressive human-(women’s-)rights-abusing Taliban, then corrupt quasi-democratic kleptocracy Potential transit route for oil and gas pipeline from Central Asia Strategic importance in Middle East

Afghanistan n Population = 27 million n Life expectancy = 46 years n Literacy rate = 32% n Avg. annual income = $280

Afghanistan n n Negligible infrastructure secondary to decades of civil war 1 of every 230 persons is a land mine amputee Infant mortality = 146/1000 50% of children malnourished; 33% are orphans

Afghanistan/Iraq Parallels n n 10 years of sanctions, bombings resulting in 500, 000 to 1, 000 deaths (per UN) UN Devt. Index 126/174 Infant mortality rates jumped from 65/1000 (pre-Gulf War I) to 103/1000 (2003) Life expectancy decreased from 62 to 56

Afghanistan/Iraq Parallels n n n Literacy decreased from 89% to 57% Infrastructure devastated, Environment degraded Rebuilding post-war?

What goes around comes around n n n 1980 s: CIA arms Afghan rebels with hundreds of Stinger missiles Late 2002: Terrorists using a similar Russianmade version of Stinger almost bring down Israeli passenger airline over Kenya CIA trying to buy back, but most unaccounted for n n Can shoot down a plane at up 6000 -8000 feet 24 diverted to Iran

Before Gulf War I n US sells weapons to Iraq/Hussein n Including components to produce WMDs Rumsfeld visits Baghdad to promote US weapons sales US minimally perturbed when Hussein gasses 4000 Kurds, torpedoes US naval vessel

Gulf War I n 105, 000 military and 110, 000 civilian deaths (almost all Iraqis) n n n 2/3 of US casualties from “friendly fire” Cost $61 billion ($82 billion in 2003 dollars) n n Over 2. 25 million refugees US pays only 1/6 of cost (most from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Germany and Japan) Environmental devastation n $48 billion in claims to UN

Kuwaiti Oil Fires

Gulf War II n Approximately 4, 500 U. S. military deaths, over 40, 000 injuries (2010) n n Traumatic brain injuries common Over 100, 000 civilian deaths (Iraq) Over 2, 400 civilian deaths (Afghanistan, 2009 alone) Massive humanitarian crisis

Gulf War II n Financial cost of war: $2 -3 trillion (est. ) n n Includes fighting, rebuilding, veterans’ health care, economic losses, etc. Global travel industry expected to lose over $500 billion Distraction from North Korea, other threats Shock and awe battle plan: targeting infrastructure explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions

Gulf War II - Iraq n 96% of of the $9. 1 billion allocated to the Development Fund for Iraq unaccounted for n n Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, 2010 Ongoing audit of another $53 billion fund ongoing, but has already uncovered numerous instances of waste, fraud, and abuse

George W Bush’s Military Record n n February, 1968: States desire to be pilot; scores in 25 th percentile in pilot aptitude section of Air Force officers test. May, 1968: Enlists in Texas Air National Guard; jumps list with assistance of Texas House Speaker; pledges two years of active duty and four years of reserve duty

George W Bush’s Military Record n n n June, 1968: Student deferment expires September, 1968: Pulls inactive duty to serve on Florida Senator’s re-election campaign November, 1968: Re-activated

George W Bush’s Military Record n n n November, 1970: Promoted to First Lieutenant, rejected by UT Law School Spring, 1970: Hired by Texas agricultural importer to shuttle plants to/from Florida June, 1970: Joins Guard’s “Champagne Unit, ” flying with sons of Texas’ elite

George W Bush’s Military Record n May, 1972: Transfers to Alabama Guard unit so he can work on Senator Blount’s re -election campaign n n His commanding officer states he never showed up for duty Grounded for missing a mandatory physical

George W Bush’s Military Record n n n Returns to Houston but never reports for Guard duty December, 1972: DUI arrest October, 1973: Air National Guard relieves him from commitment 8 months early, allowing him to attend Harvard Business School

US Nuclear Weapons Policies Under GW Bush n n n Nuclear Posture Review – expands scope of use of nuclear weapons, including first-strike against non-nuclear states Withdrawal from ABM Treaty Boycotted Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Conference Budgeted money to resume nuclear testing and development Possible use of nuclear-powered predator drones

U. S. Nuclear Policy Under Obama U. S. retains first strike option against nuclear states n START treaty signed by Obama, Putin n Awaiting Senate approval n Will limit US and Russia to 1, 550 long-range warheads (still overkill) n

Phillip Berrigan “Nuclear weapons are the scourge of the earth; to mine for them, manufacture them, deploy them, use them, is a curse against God, the human family, and the earth itself. ”

Disturbing Trends: The “Patriot Bill” n n Passed with minimal debate, most Congresspersons acknowledge not reading Increased governmental and corporate secrecy – polluters subject to decreased public scrutiny Erosion of civil liberties – deportations, accused held without charge/access to legal counsel 70, 000 individuals on government’s list of suspected terrorists

Disturbing Trends: The Homeland Security Agency n The HSA absorbs two dozen agencies, 170, 000 employees, $38 billion budget TIPS program (citizen spying program) n Total Information Awareness System (Poindexter) n n Paranoia: alert levels, duct tape and plastic sheeting

Special Interest Provisions in the Homeland Security Law n n n Vaccine liability protection (incl. existing thimersol lawsuits) – Eli Lilly US corporations setting up offshore business fronts to avoid paying taxes allowed to contract with HSD US government prohibited from publicly releasing information related to “vulnerabilities” – incl. safety of nuclear reactors, environmental toxins, etc

Special Interest Provisions in the Homeland Security Law n Immunity from liability for manufacturers of antiterrorism products and technologies n n n Army investigations show 60 -90% of soldiers’ CBW protective gear malfunctions Liability protection for airport screening companies Secret advisory meetings with industry permitted, even if meeting not related to national security n C. f. Cheney’s Energy Commission

Disturbing Trends: Censorship and Propaganda n n n US blacks out names of corporations which sold weapons to Iraq on UN inspectors’ reports Covering of Picasso’s Guernica for news conferences outside UN Security Council Armed Services Edition books for soldiers: n n WW II – the Classics to popular fiction Gulf War II – Henry V, Art of War, War Letters, Profiles of American Military Heroes

Disturbing Trends: Censorship and Propaganda n “No Child Left Behind” Education Act contains amendment requiring that all public schools allow recruiters in their buildings and provide military with contact numbers and addresses for all students n n Parents can opt out 21 st Century Mc. Carthyism n Wikileaks

Disturbing Trends n Hate crimes, intolerance n Media jingoism n Army to ignore FDA safety standards in experiments on soldiers (legacy of 20 th Century crimes)

Disturbing Trends n Budget surplus/deficit: n n Cities and states facing huge budget shortfall n n n 2000: surplus = $5. 6 trillion 2003: deficit = $2. 1 trillion 2010: deficit = $1. 3 trillion Bush: “States are on their own. ” Obama: Financial meltdown Patriot II…?

George W. Bush August 5, 2004 n “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. "

James Madison “The fetters imposed on liberty at home have ever been forged out of the weapons provided for defense against real, pretended, or imaginary dangers from abroad. ”

Samuel Johnson “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”

Just War Theory n n The cause must be just A lawful authority must decide to resort to force The intention of the war must be in accord with international law The use of force must be a last resort

Just War Theory n n n The probability of success should be high The cost-benefit ratio must be high The means used must conform with international humanitarian law

Ignored Alternatives to War in Iraq n n Border monitoring in Jordan, Syria and Turkey Advanced X-ray scanning technology and an electronic pass system at borders Sanctions assistance missions to enforce military sanctions Political assurances and economic incentives to neighboring states

Ignored Alternatives to War in Iraq n n n Improve cargo monitoring at port of Azqaba, Jordan (high-volume port for seagoing cargo to Iraq) Create a green list of approved oil companies to purchase Iraqi oil – i. e. , those not providing kickbacks to Hussein Require audited financial reports from oil purchasers to enforce above

Ignored Alternatives to War in Iraq n n n Control or shut down the Syria-Iraq pipeline Expose and penalize arms embargo violations Justice in Palestine n n Israel = most UN Security Council Violations Economic and humanitarian assistance to poor Muslim countries – build alliances, good will n n Middle Eastern Marshall Plan Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (c. f. South Africa, El Salvador)

The US: Rogue Nation n History: Native Americans, slavery, current excesses, disparities and injustices Co-opting Nazi and Japanese WWII scientists Minimum 277 troop deployments by the US in its 225+ year history

The US: Rogue Nation n Since the end of WWII, the US has bombed: n China, Korea, Indonesia, Cuba, Guatemala, Congo, Peru, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Grenada, Libya, Panama, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yugoslavia, and Iraq

The US: Rogue Nation Conservative estimate = 8 million killed n US invasions/bombings often largely at behest of corporate interests n

The US: Rogue Nation n In 2009, the US spent about $2, 210 per US citizen on defense n n vs. a few dollars per capita on peacekeeping efforts The US maintains military bases in 69 “sovereign” nations around the world

The US: Rogue Nation n Continued funding of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation Formerly the School of the Americas n Over 60, 000 graduates, including many of the worst human rights abusers in Latin America (e. g. , Manuel Noriega, Omar Torrijos, and the assassins of Archbishop Oscar Romero) n School of the Americas Watch, arrests n

International Non. Cooperation/Isolationism n Failure to sign or approve: Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change n Convention on the Prohibition of Anti. Personnel Land Mines n Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty n

International Non. Cooperation/Isolationism n Failure to sign or approve: Convention on the Rights of the Child n Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights n Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons n

International Non. Cooperation/Isolationism n Failure to sign or approve: n n Protocol 1, Article 55 of the Geneva Conventions, which bans methods or means of warfare which are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (designed to control dumping of hazardous wastes from the industrialized world in developing countries)

The US: Rogue Nation n Death Penalty: n n n US executes more of its citizens than any other country except China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia Until recently, the US was the only country to execute both juveniles and the mentally ill Failure to follow World Court Decisions Failure to recognize International Criminal Court Largest debtor to the UN (only 40% of dues paid)

Solutions n n n Physician activism (PSR, IPPNW, etc. ) Increased education: public, medical and public health students Tolerance and appreciation of diversity Conservation measures Assist victims of war (PHR, MSF, etc. )

Thomas Jefferson “Nothing can keep (government) right but (the people’s) vigilant and distrustful superintendence”

Harvey Cushing “A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man. He must view the man in his world. ”

Rudolph Virchow “Doctors are natural attorneys for the poor … If medicine is to really accomplish its great task, it must intervene in political and social life…”

The role of the doctor in society n World Health Organization: n “The role of the physician … in the preservation and promotion of peace is the most significant factor for the attainment of health for all. ”

Pastor Niemoller “First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up, for I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists, and I did not speak up, for I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up, for I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up for me. ”

Contact Information Public Health and Social Justice Website http: //www. phsj. org martindonohoe@phsj. org