This episode is an analysis of the environmental impacts of the current
war in Iraq.  There are several major categories, each of which will be
discussed.  This episode is meant to be an overview of the
rarely-discussed ecological situation in Iraq, rather than a persuasive
piece towards one viewpoint or another.  The entire episode will
revolve around environmental issues--political and strategic issues and
biases will not be included.

• Negative Effects:
• Oil Fires: Saddam lit oil wells on fire, resulting in
  extreme air pollution.
• Oil Spills: the oil wells spilled into the
  surrounding ground and sea, ruining vast expanses of animal habitats.
• Depleted Uranium: DU munitions used by Coalition
  forces have chemically wounded thousands of Iraqis and Americans.
• War Machines: Military vehicles and structures
  wreak havoc through the fragile deserts of Western and <st1:place w:st="on">Northern
  Iraq</st1:place>.
• Munitions: Unexploded ordinances and explosion
  craters have wrecked acres and acres of potential farmland.
• Water Pollution: Unnatural or unhealthy chemicals,
  such as oil and human biomass, have entered waterways in large
  quantities, thereby rendering them unusable.
• Infrastructure Damage: The lack of leadership in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
  means that significant environmental problems, such as broken sewage
  systems, never get fixed.
• Fiscal Allocation: Funds allocated to defense could
  have been used to pursue environmentalist initiatives.


• Positive Effects:
• Iraq War is a major catalyst for the “alternative
  energies initiative?.
• Saddam’s ecologically harmful policies will no
  longer devastate the Iraqi ecosystem.
• <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
  relationship with the United Nations has improved, meaning that UN
  environmental agencies can now safely enter the region.

For more information, read:

Environmental Science by Richard Wright

The Gulf War Aftermath by Mohammed Sadiq

Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq by the United Nations Environment Program

The Iraq Quagmire by the Institute for Policy Studies

The Environment Consequences of the war in Iraq by the UK Green Party



Special thanks to: Captain Christopher Green, Corporal Trent Davis, and Master Sergeant Jonny Lung



Military History Podcast is sponsored by Armchair General Magazine