Saddam Charged for Gassing Kurds in 80's

Saddam, along with 6 others, is being charged additionally with crimes against humanity and genocide. According to Iraqi law, this new trial could begin within 45 days.

Judge Raid Juhi, who is trying him for the slaughter of over 140 Kurds at this time, has stated that a different judge will review and try this second case.

The new case involves Saddam's role in Operation Anfal, a three-phase move against Kurds in northern Iraq in the late 1980s. Anfal included the March 16 gas attack on the village of Halabja in which 5,000 people, including women and children, died.

This is an horrific part of the legacy of Saddam and his henchmen. Over 5000 men, women, and children were gassed to death in the Operation Anfal on March 16 in the late 1980's. Of no solace:

In December, a Dutch court sentenced chemicals merchant Frans van Anraat to 15 years in prison for selling Saddam's regime the chemicals used in the gas attacks. The ruling, the first ever dealing with atrocities under Saddam, concluded that the attacks constituted genocide.

In another damning piece of evidence:

One document was a government decree said to have been signed by Saddam on June 20, 1987, ordering "special artillery bombs to kill as many people as possible" in the Kurdish area. Special artillery, Dutch prosecutors said, meant chemical weapons.

Are there any questions as to whether or not we did the right thing? All of Military personnel of the United States of America are Heros. (Except for the occasional kook.) I am honored to live in such a country as this. Thank God, and keep your heads down.

Nathan from Church and State is having an open trackback this weekend, 4/8-9/2006. I have entered this article, and you may want to enter an article of your own. It is a very good site. Have a great Sunday.