PSR Executive Director Robert K. Musil, PhD, MPH, summarized the public health impacts identified in the report. "Even so-called 'high tech' war wrecks a society's human service systems and physical infrastructure by disrupting delivery of food, water, medicine and energy supplies. The loss of these necessities of life leads to infection, disease, malnutrition, and starvation on a massive scale."
The aftermath of a U.S.-led attack could include civil war, famine, epidemics, millions of refugees and economic collapse, according to the report. Dr. Victor W. Sidel, a Professor of Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City who advised the report authors, added, "As documented in Collateral Damage, a 'pre-emptive' attack would exacerbate the disastrous levels of death, disease, disability and despair already present in Iraq. At the same time, it would weaken the United Nations, weaken international law, weaken efforts to reduce terrorism and weaken the United States itself." Dr. Sidel is Past President of the American Public Health Association and held similar positions at IPPNW and PSR.
The aftermath of a U.S.-led attack could include civil war, famine, epidemics, millions of refugees and economic collapse, according to the report. Dr. Victor W. Sidel, a Professor of Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City who advised the report authors, added, "As documented in Collateral Damage, a 'pre-emptive' attack would exacerbate the disastrous levels of death, disease, disability and despair already present in Iraq. At the same time, it would weaken the United Nations, weaken international law, weaken efforts to reduce terrorism and weaken the United States itself." Dr. Sidel is Past President of the American Public Health Association and held similar positions at IPPNW and PSR.