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*   *   The Korean War
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* Topic 2: The war* *
     
 
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The Korean War
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Writing activity

Activity 3: War Crime?

Statement by First Lieutenant John Quinn USAF.

'How I was Forced to Take Part in the Inhuman Bacteriological Warfare Launched by U.S. Wall Street

Image of John Quinn

...He first told us that there were many, many, ways of spreading germ warfare. Germs could be spread anywhere at anytime, that the means were ready. He told us that germs by themselves could not be dropped because they would die in 60 seconds in direct sunlight. That germs could, however, be carried by many different types of insects and rodents. These insects and rodents have been bred for many of their generations under laboratory conditions and selected for their ability to survive anywhere at anytime, even under the most adverse conditions. To name a few of the ways they can be spread, he said, was by dust just like a smoke screen is laid down. That they could be spread in this way by ships moving in close to shore when the wind was blowing onto shore. That they could also be spread in this way by low flying jet aircraft. He meant any type of jet aircraft. He said that they could be spread by bugs in clothes, fleas, flies, lice and mosquitoes. These same bugs could also be dropped in many other ways, in boxes that would become very fragile in the sun and allow the bugs to crawl out, and also in bombs. He said since we were flying B-26s he would discuss mostly this last way by bombs. He then showed us pictures of a jet, a drawing of an F-84, spraying dust with germs, cut of its tip tanks. He showed us a picture of some old clothes with bugs that looked like flies and lice crawling in them. These bugs can be keep very warm in the clothes, although he said that they can be selectively bred so that the cold wouldn't harm them. Also they can go a very long time without food...'

see full text document

Source: People's China 1952 Vol.1

Is this a 'war crime'? How do you decide?

You will have to consider the following:

Bullet
Why might Quinn be a reliable witness?
Bullet
Why might Quinn be giving an untrustworthy account?

To help you further consider the these fundemental questions:


BulletTask 1
Write down your own definition of a 'war crime'.
BulletTask 2

Write a brief answer to the following question:

Should war criminals be tracked down by the international community? If so, how should they be punished.

 

 

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