Prosecutor: Saddam Directly Involved in Chemical Attack on Kurds (1 Viewer)

[CurrentAffairs]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The chief prosecutor in Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against the Kurds presented the most serious evidence to date on Monday, implicating the deposed Iraqi leader directly in chemical attacks against his Kurdish population.

Munqith al-Faroon showed the Iraqi court trying Saddam and six other former regime members about 25 documents, including some presidency letters instructing the army to use "special ammunition" — identified as "mustard gas" — to quell a Kurdish rebellion in 1987.

One of the letters, dated in 1987 and signed by Iraq's military intelligence, asked Saddam's presidential office for permission to strike Kurdish rebels with the "special ammunition," al-Faroon said, reading parts of one of the documents, which was briefly shown in a television clip broadcasting trial proceedings.

"It identifies the special ammunition right here as 'mustard gas'," al-Faroon said, pointing to the gas reference in the letter.

A response letter from Saddam's presidential office said it sanctioned the strike, provided that its "goal is not only to harm the rebels," according to al-Faroon, who insisted that the other target was Kurdish civilians.



FOXNews.com - Prosecutor: Saddam Directly Involved in Chemical Attack on Kurds - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

 

[ALiberalModerate]

This is news? We have known this since it happened.

 

[CurrentAffairs]

This is news? We have known this since it happened.

and yet ...

Things were far better when Hussein was in power.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

and yet ...

Saddam was a horrible murderous dictator. However, the flip side of that is that stastically, the annualized death rate for civilians in Iraq is much higher today than it was under the 20 years of Saddam's reign.

You can try to polish this turd all you want, but at this point, I dont think you are going to convince many Americans or even many Iraqis that the war was a good idea and that either group is better off because of it.

 

[Iriemon]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The chief prosecutor in Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against the Kurds presented the most serious evidence to date on Monday, implicating the deposed Iraqi leader directly in chemical attacks against his Kurdish population.

Munqith al-Faroon showed the Iraqi court trying Saddam and six other former regime members about 25 documents, including some presidency letters instructing the army to use "special ammunition" — identified as "mustard gas" — to quell a Kurdish rebellion in 1987.

One of the letters, dated in 1987 and signed by Iraq's military intelligence, asked Saddam's presidential office for permission to strike Kurdish rebels with the "special ammunition," al-Faroon said, reading parts of one of the documents, which was briefly shown in a television clip broadcasting trial proceedings.

"It identifies the special ammunition right here as 'mustard gas'," al-Faroon said, pointing to the gas reference in the letter.

A response letter from Saddam's presidential office said it sanctioned the strike, provided that its "goal is not only to harm the rebels," according to al-Faroon, who insisted that the other target was Kurdish civilians.

FOXNews.com - Prosecutor: Saddam Directly Involved in Chemical Attack on Kurds - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

OK, so when are we going to have the trial of the American leader for chemical attacks against the Sunni populations?

I won't hold my breath.

 

[Iriemon]

and yet ...

Originally Posted by SouthernDemocrat
This is news? We have known this since it happened.

and yet ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Iriemon
Things were far better when Hussein was in power.

Yes. Things were not just better when Hussein was in power, but far better.

Discussed here: http://www.debatepolitics.com/450685-post19.html

I was speaking from the perspective of the US, but I'll include the average Iraqi in there too.

 

[tryreading]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The chief prosecutor in Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against the Kurds presented the most serious evidence to date on Monday, implicating the deposed Iraqi leader directly in chemical attacks against his Kurdish population.

Munqith al-Faroon showed the Iraqi court trying Saddam and six other former regime members about 25 documents, including some presidency letters instructing the army to use "special ammunition" — identified as "mustard gas" — to quell a Kurdish rebellion in 1987.

One of the letters, dated in 1987 and signed by Iraq's military intelligence, asked Saddam's presidential office for permission to strike Kurdish rebels with the "special ammunition," al-Faroon said, reading parts of one of the documents, which was briefly shown in a television clip broadcasting trial proceedings.

"It identifies the special ammunition right here as 'mustard gas'," al-Faroon said, pointing to the gas reference in the letter.

A response letter from Saddam's presidential office said it sanctioned the strike, provided that its "goal is not only to harm the rebels," according to al-Faroon, who insisted that the other target was Kurdish civilians.



FOXNews.com - Prosecutor: Saddam Directly Involved in Chemical Attack on Kurds - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

The hell of it is we supported Saddam in the eighties even though we knew he had used chemical weapons on his own people. We also backed him in his aggression against Iran, and we knew that he had used chemical weapons on the Iranians too. I don't know why it was okay to support him at that time. Seems like a double standard to me.

Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein

 

[jujuman13]

Quote
(The hell of it is we supported Saddam in the eighties even though we knew he had used chemical weapons on his own people. We also backed him in his aggression against Iran, and we knew that he had used chemical weapons on the Iranians too. I don't know why it was okay to support him at that time. Seems like a double standard to me.)

It was ok to support Saddam Hussein then for one excellent reason.

WE ARE AMERICA.

WE have rarely sought to give any Country a democratic Government without seeking some payback from that Government and the Nation / Country represented by the Democratic Government.

The Soviet Union did likewise, Russia is in the process of attempting to re-gather as many nations as possible in support of Russian Policies.

China is doing exactly the same thing, it ostensibly gives aid to countries that are cash poor but energy and Metals rich.
And so it goes on, the US wanted to be able to have certainty of Oil supply.

 

[FierceEnigma12z]

Just wanted to mention can't find any examples right now, but a few people on this board have actually said that Saddam didn't commit gas attacks on the Kurds.I forget who they say it was instead, but they only use it in their comments to comdemn the Iraq war.So unfortunately...yes, this might be news to people.

 

[tryreading]

It was ok to support Saddam Hussein then for one excellent reason.

WE ARE AMERICA.

WE have rarely sought to give any Country a democratic Government without seeking some payback from that Government and the Nation / Country represented by the Democratic Government.

The Soviet Union did likewise, Russia is in the process of attempting to re-gather as many nations as possible in support of Russian Policies.

China is doing exactly the same thing, it ostensibly gives aid to countries that are cash poor but energy and Metals rich.
And so it goes on, the US wanted to be able to have certainty of Oil supply.

We weren't trying to 'give' Iraq a democratic government in the 1980s. I don't know what you mean.