_Until lions have their own historians, their history will be that of the hunters

_

There has been a lot of western media coverage of recent Russian air strikes on the Mariupol maternity hospital in Ukraine.

There was also an infamous attack by US forces on Fallujah and its hospital in Iraq in 2004. There was scarcely a mention in Australian media despite the ADF being involved.

Whilst our media turned a blind eye with the encouragement of ADF public relations about what was happening in Iraq and Fallujah, overseas media reported extensively.

The following are extracts of an article I posted on February 14, 2018.

On October 16 2004, the_Washington Post_reported that electricity and water were cut off to the city just as a fresh wave of [bombing] strikes began Thursday night, an action that US forces also took at the start of assaults on Najaf and Samarra. The Red Cross and other aid agencieswere also denied accessto deliver the most basic of humanitarian aid water, food, and emergency medical supplies to the civilian population.

On November 7, a_New York Times_front page storydetailed how the Coalitions ground campaign was launched by seizing Fallujahs only hospital: Patients and hospital employees were rushed out of the rooms by armed soldiers and ordered to sit or lie on the floor while troops tied their hands behind their backs. The story also revealed the motive for attacking the hospital: The offensive also shut down what officers said was a propaganda weapon for the militants: Fallujah General Hospital with its stream of reports of civilian casualties. The citys two medical clinics were also bombed and destroyed.

In early November 2004, the_New York Times_reported that Fallujahs main hospital had been attacked Patients and hospital employees were rushed out of rooms by armed soldiers and ordered to sit or lie on the floor while troops tied their hands behind their backs .

The_Nation_magazine referred to reports that US armed forces killed scores of patients in an attach on a Fallujah health centre and have deprived civilians of medical care, food and water

The BBC reported on 11 November 2004 Without water and electricity, we feel completely cut off from every one else there are dead women and children lying on the streets. People are getting weaker from hunger. Many are dying from their injuries because there is no medical help left in the city whatsoever.

On 14 November 2004, the_Guardian_reported The horrific conditions for those who remained in the city have begun to emerge in the last 24 hours as it becomes clear that US military claims of precision targeting of insurgent positions were false. The city has been without power or water for days.

A further allegation supported by BBC pictures on 14 November 2004 is that coalition forces prevented the distribution of aid supplies to civilians.

The_Independent_referred to an Italian documentary which claimed that Iraqi civilians, including women and children, had died of burns caused by white phosphorous during the assault (on Fallujah).

According to Ali Fadhil writing in the_Guardian_of 12 January 2005, The US military destroyed Fallujah.."

The Australian media edited out the attacks on the Fallujah General Hospital but not on a maternity hospital in Mariupol. We write what suits our view of who are most deserving.