Posted on 10/08/2006 4:40:30 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Hundreds of Iraqi policemen fell sick from poisoning Sunday at a base in southern Iraq after the evening meal breaking their daily Ramadan fast, and officials said they were investigating whether the poisoning was intentional.
An official with the Environment Ministry said 11 policemen had died. However, the governor of Wasit province — where the poisoning took place — denied any deaths, though he said some of the victims were in critical condition. There was no immediate explanation for the contradictory reports.
Some of the policemen began bleeding from the ears and nose after the meal, said Jassim al-Atwan, an inspector for the Environment Ministry, who was serving as a liaison in the investigation between the Health Ministry and the base, located in the town of Numaniyah.
"Hundreds of soldiers were poisoned after taking food and water in the iftar," Wasit Gov. Hamad al-Latif told the Associated Press, referring to the meal that breaks the sunrise-to-sunset fast during the Islamic holy month. "Investigations are under way to determine the cause."
Samples of the food and water were being tested "to determine the substance in them" and will be sent to Baghdad for further tests, al-Latif said.
Sunni insurgents who have targeted police and military forces with bombings and shootings have not been known to use poisoning as a weapon. But the suddenness and severity of the sickness raised speculation that the incident could be a new attack. The division is mainly made up of Shiites.
Between 600-700 policemen were affected to varying degrees, and 11 who had the heaviest amount of the food had died, al-Atwan told The Associated Press.
Some of the soldiers collapsed as soon as they stood up from them meal, others fell "one after the other" as they headed out to the yard in the base to line up in formation, al-Atwan said.
Iraqi ambulances and helicopters sent by the U.S. military rushed the policemen to hospitals in Numaniyah and the nearby city of Kut.
The afflicted policemen belonged to the 4th Division of the National Police, nicknamed the "Karrar" Division, after a title of Imam Ali, the most revered Shiite saint.
The division normally operates around the town of Salman Pak on the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad — an area of intense Shiite-Sunni killings. The division was sent to the base in Numaniyah, 60 miles southeast of the capital, for further training.
Al-Latif said food and water at the base are provided by an Australian contractor working through Iraqi subcontractors. He did not identify the Australian firm.
We patiently explained to you that the Dems whining and anti-war attitudes influenced our action and foreign policy, so they can very reasonably can be blamed.
Thanks. Didn't know that.
Oh this is terrible. I remember reading a report from someone who said a WMD attack was expected soon in Iraq (I will look for it- ), which caused Baghdad to be locked down to an extraordinary degree. I took it with a grain of salt, but this story is VERY troubling. If someone would do this to their co-religionists, remember they would not hesitate to do it to us infidels. May the suffering get the help they need.
"That's for certain. Food poisoning takes a lot longer to incubate. Typically you will fall ill after the NEXT meal."
48-72 hours, IIRC. My ex was a vet tech for the Air Force, and used to inspect the food in the commissary and dining halls.
huh? but there are no WMDs in Iraq!!! /sarc
You don't have to agree and I don't particularly want to argue.
My main point was that jumping on VRWC with a personal attack was inappropriate and uncalled for. He posted an opinion, which I thought was valid, you didn't. No problem. But you could have said you disagreed and why, instead of resorting to personal insult.
Most of your posts are reasonable, this was out of character for you and it was oriented towards someone who has not attacked you, merely posted his opinion.
Hopefully you do agree that it's a good idea to keep personal insults to a minimum. I can see how it can happen "in the heat of an argument" when you are arguing with someone for a while, but this was just out of the blue, just because someone said something you disagreed with. So can we just drop this, please.
I have food poisoning before but that would be a first!
They had high fever and severe flu symptoms that rapidly progressed over a period of hours.
Did I offend someone?
By following that thought through, nobody is to blame for anything.
There's a whole lotta idiocy swirling around you. Might mean something.
My first thought.
Yes.
Pgh, you are the first one to mention this. You are a good person. Most of the rest of us (myself included) were trying to figure out what could have caused such injuries. You have a great outlook.
Well, I would say that calling someone an idiot does tend to offend the recipient of the insult.
That's how it all started.
No sh!t, Sherlock. Welcome to the party...
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