Posted by AuntieMel on March 22, 2006, at 9:33:03
In reply to Re: Your allowed to say..., posted by special_k on March 21, 2006, at 21:52:46
Here's a few other charges that *aren't* included in this trial. Remember, he is innocent until proven guilty.
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1) On March 16, 1988 the people of Halabja were chemically attacked. 5000 people died instantly, 75% women and children. (source Kurdistan Democratic Party)
2) "Eyewitnesses have said that Iraqi warplanes dropped three clusters each of four bombs on the village of Birjinni on August 25, 1988....." Refugees from several villages interviewed at the time reported that for those close to the bomb bursts which were delivered by low-flying jets, death came suddenly. First to die were birds and domestic fowl, followed by sheep, goats, cows, and mules. Humans also died within minutes, without evidence of physical trauma."
...... No count was given, but 2 bodies were examined and found to contain traces of Sarin, mustard gas and other chemicals. Thousands fled to Turkey. (Source Physicians for Human Rights)3) The first known case of chemical weapons used on the kurds was in April 1987. Saddam's cousin, who took over the "Northern Bureau" did some experiments on April 15. The experiments were quite a success, with hundreds dying. His report said:
"As soon as we complete the deportations,” he informed them, “we will start attacking [the Pershmega resistance] everywhere... then we will surround them in a small pocket and attack them with chemical weapons. I will not attack them with chemicals just one day; I will continue to attack them with chemicals for fifteen days... I told the expert comrades that I need guerrilla groups in Europe to kill whoever they see of them [Kurdish oppositionists]. I will do it, with the help of God. "
"By the time the genocidal frenzy ended, 90 % of Kurdish villages, and over twenty small towns and cities, had been wiped off the map (4). The countryside was riddled with 15 million landmines, intended to make agriculture and husbandry impossible. A million and a half Kurdish peasants had been interned in camps. Since 1974 over 400,000 had died in Baghdad’s war against the Kurds. Almost half had disappeared without trace. About 10 % of the total Kurdish population of Iraq had perished." (Source Le Monde Diplomatique)
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This was the campaign in Northern Iraq. I can look up what he did in Southern Iraq if you like.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:621784
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060322/msgs/623304.html