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The bulk of this page is paraphrased from the book "Unpeople" by Mark Curtis [1]
Contents
Deaths from Post-WWII British Interventions
Millions of people have died as a direct result of Britain's post WWII foreign policy; people whose lives are seen as expendable in pursuit foreign policy goals largely dictated by corporate interests.5
The following two tables provide figures for the estimated number of deaths resulting from deliberate government actions since World War II, for which Britain bears significant responsibility. There are two tables:
- Direct responsibility - Where British military and/or covert forces have played a direct role.
- Indirect responsibility - Where Britain has provided strong support (through trade, arms exports, aid and/or diplomatic support) for allies engaged in aggression or killing.
Were cases of 'active inaction' or simply 'turning a blind eye' to be included the figures would be significantly greater.
The figures quoted are from commonly cited estimates and represent either broad consensus or, where there is a wide diversity of estimates, the upper and lower figures. They do NOT include the extra-judicial killings common to many of the repressive regimes supported by Britain as a matter of course throughout the post-war period - for example Saudi Arabia, The Gulf States, Uzbekistan and many others. Neither do the figures include the millions of easily preventable deaths from disease and other consequences of abject poverty throughout the so-called 'Third World'. The figures also generally refer to the number of 'enemy' deaths rather than total deaths.
Whilst not claiming to be a thorough scientific analysis, the tables provide a reasonably accurate reflection of British responsibility for a very large number of deaths throughout the world during the the post-WWII period.
Direct Responsibility
Year | Conflict | Estimated deaths | Britain's role |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Invasion and occupation of Iraq | 100,000 - 1,000,000 | British forces played secondary role to US in military operations. Full British Government support throughout |
2001 | Bombing, invasion and occupation of Afghanistan | 20,000 - 40,000 | Same as for the Iraq invasion |
1999 | Bombing of Yugoslavia | 1,000 | British forces played secondary role to US in military operations as part of wider NATO campaign |
1998 | Bombing of Iraq | 600 - 1,600 | British forces played secondary role to US in military operations |
1991 | Gulf war | 100,000 - 150,000 | Ditto |
1982 | Falklands war | 655 | British military campaign to regain the Falkland Islands from Argentina |
1961-1973 | Vietnam - SE Asia wars | 2,500,000 - 3,000,000 | Britain privately backed the US strongly, regularly supported it publicly but also played several direct roles; providing military and 'counter-insurgency' advice to South Vietnam. British covert forces took part in the war; intelligence was passed to US military. The British role was therefore more direct than indirect |
1962-1970 | War in Yemen | 150,000 - 200,000 | Secret British operations involving covert action and arms supplies |
1962-1970 | Suppression of revolts in Aden | 300 - 900 | British 'colonial' government forces responsible |
1965-1966 | Indonesian army slaughters | 500,000 - 1,000,000 | Britain provided Indonesian generals with variety of direct, covert support, including 'information' operations |
1952-1960 | War in Kenya | 150,000 | British colonial war and 'resettlement' operations |
1948-1960 | War in Malaya | 10,000 - 13,000 | Ditto |
1957-1958 | Rebellion against Indonesian central government | 5,000 | Covert operation with US to support the rebellion, including arms supplies |
1956 | British invasion of Egypt | 1,600 - 3,000 | Military intervention with France and Israel to control the Suez canal |
1948-1955 | Uprising in Baltic states of the USSR | 75,000 | British covert operation to fund and support uprisings |
1953 | Coup in Iran | 300 | British covert operation with the CIA to overthrow the government of Mohammed Mossadeq |
1950-1953 | Korean war | 1,000,000 - 2,000,000 | British military played key role, technically as part of UN force, in reality led by US |
1944-1949 | Greek civil war | 65,000 - 80,000 | British military/covert operations in support of Greek government |
1945-1949 | War for Indonesian independence | 5,000 - 80,000 | Military involvement to suppress independence movement |
Low | High | |
---|---|---|
Sub-Totals | 4,834,455 | 7,800,455 |
Indirect Responsibility
Year | Conflict | Estimated deaths | Britain's role |
---|---|---|---|
2000-present | Israeli killings in occupied territories | 4,100 | The British government is a strong supporter of Israeli policies in many ways. |
1999-present | Killings in Nigeria | 12,000 | The British government is strong a supporter of Nigerian policies in many ways. |
1999-present | Second Russian invasion of Chechnya | 15,000 - 25,000 | The British government is a strong supporter of Russian policies in many ways. |
1996-present | Nepal civil war | 3,700 | The British Government provides military and diplomatic support to the government of Nepal |
1990-present | Columbia State killings | 25,000 - 45,000 | The British government is strong a supporter of Columbian policies in many ways. |
1976-present | Indonesian attacks in Aceh province | 20,000 | The British government is a strong supporter of Indonesian policies in many ways. |
1969-present | Indonesian attacks in West Papua province | 100,000 | Ditto |
1991-2003 | Sanctions against Iraq | 500,000 - 1,000,000 | Technically maintained by the UN; in reality supported virtually solely by Britain and US |
1999 | Indonesian attacks in East Timor | 5,000 | British Government continued to support, and arm, Indonesia, throughout the violence |
1984-1999 | Turkey's campaign against Kurds | 30,000 | British governments were strong supporters of Turkey's policies, in various ways |
1998 | US bombing of Sudan | 15,000 - 30,000 | Britain strongly supported US attack that destroyed pharmaceutical factory producing most of Sudan's life-saving drugs |
1994-1996 | Russian invasion of Chechnya | 60,000 - 100,000 | British Government provided strong support to Russia, in various ways |
1948-1994 | Apartheid South Africa state killings | 10,000 - 20,000 | British governments consistently backed South African regimes, in various ways |
1989 | US invasion of Panama | 350 - 3,000 | Britain provided strong diplomatic support |
1980-1988 | Iran–Iraq war | 1,000,000 | Thatcher government effectively supported Iraq's attack on Iran, supplying it with military equipment and financial aid |
1987-1988 | Iraq's campaign against Kurds | 100,000 | Ditto |
1984-1985 | Ugandan civil war | 100,000 - 300,000 | Britain provided strong support to the Ugandan government and maintained military training programme |
1984-1985 | Indonesian state killings | 5,000 | Thatcher government was strong supporter of Indonesia, in various ways |
Early 1980's | El Salvador civil war | 75,000 - 80-000 | Thatcher government provided strong diplomatic backing to US strategy supporting Salvadoran regime |
1980's | US aggression against Nicaragua | 30,000 | Thatcher government provided strong diplomatic and other backing, including covert support, to US strategy |
1953-1979 | Shah's regime in Iran | 10,000 | British governments provided strong support to Shah's regime, in various ways |
1975 | Indonesian invasion of East Timor | 200,000 | Wilson/Callaghan governments provided strong backing to Indonesia, in various ways |
1973 | Coup in Chile | 3,000-5000 | Heath government welcomed coup and backed Pinochet regime, as did subsequent British governments |
1967-1970 | Nigeria/Biafra civil war | 1,000,000 - 3,000,000 | Wilson government gave strong backing to Nigeria, in various ways |
1963 | Iraq killings | 5,000 | Macmillan government in effect supported massacres and welcomed new military government |
1960's | Iraq campaigns against Kurds | 12,000 - 100,000 | British governments gave strong backing to Iraq in various ways |
Low | High | |
---|---|---|
Sub-totals | 3,340,150 | 6,302,800 |
Low | High | |
---|---|---|
Grand totals | 8,174,605 | 14,103,255 |
References
- ↑ ISBN 0099469723 Unpeople - Britain's Secret Human Rights Abuses. By Mark Curtis. 2004