Video evidence, showing Kurdish villagers dying from a chemical attack, was shown at yesterday's session of Saddam Hussein's trial.
The video were shot in April 1987 and May 1988, and shows attack helicopters flying low over the mountains as villagers scatter.
The video then showed the aftermath of the chemical attacks; bodies, including a baby.
The defence claims that the government was conducting a legitimate military operation against separatists, who threatened the government while Iraq was at war with Iran.
The trial continues.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Saddam Linked To Chemical Weapons
The court hosting Saddam Hussein's trial heard from the prosecution yesterday, which presented documents that showed that Saddam's government used banned chemical weapons in the counterinsurgency operation against Iraqi Kurds in the 80's.
The documents, suggest that Saddam's office was kept regularly informed on the effects and characteristics of chemical weapons and approved their use.
A letter dated March 25 1987 from former military intelligence director, Saber Douri, said that the targets "lie in lowlands", and thus would be suitable for using the chemical sarin and mustard gas weapons because the poisons would spread out and stay in place a long time.
The letter was addressed to Saddam's office, and recommended that 33% of the stock be used for the attack with the rest being saved "due to the limited number of special weapons".
Saddam claims that the targets were not Iraqis but agents of Iran.
Another letter showed that a chemical attack had been delayed until the snows thawed, when they would be more effective.
The trial continues.
The documents, suggest that Saddam's office was kept regularly informed on the effects and characteristics of chemical weapons and approved their use.
A letter dated March 25 1987 from former military intelligence director, Saber Douri, said that the targets "lie in lowlands", and thus would be suitable for using the chemical sarin and mustard gas weapons because the poisons would spread out and stay in place a long time.
The letter was addressed to Saddam's office, and recommended that 33% of the stock be used for the attack with the rest being saved "due to the limited number of special weapons".
Saddam claims that the targets were not Iraqis but agents of Iran.
Another letter showed that a chemical attack had been delayed until the snows thawed, when they would be more effective.
The trial continues.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Saddam's Soldiers Invited Back
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has asked for former members of Saddam Hussein's disbanded army to join Iraq's new security forces, in an effort to stabilise the country.
The former U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, idiotically and against advice from the UK dissolved the Iraqi army after Saddam's government fell.
Needless to say, many of the unemployed troops joined the insurgency.
Whether this eleventh hour appeal from the Prime Minister of Iraq is enough to save the country from all out civil war, remains to be seen.
The former U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, idiotically and against advice from the UK dissolved the Iraqi army after Saddam's government fell.
Needless to say, many of the unemployed troops joined the insurgency.
Whether this eleventh hour appeal from the Prime Minister of Iraq is enough to save the country from all out civil war, remains to be seen.
Trial Resumes
The trial of Saddam Hussein and six codefendants on genocide charges against Iraq's Kurdish minority in 1980s resumed in Baghdad on Monday.
The chief prosecutor, Munqith al-Faroun, prsented documents from the Iraqi army and intelligence recommending the use of chemical weapons during the Operation Anfal (Spoils of War) as more effective approach to destroy the Kurdish guerrilla.
The trial continues.
The chief prosecutor, Munqith al-Faroun, prsented documents from the Iraqi army and intelligence recommending the use of chemical weapons during the Operation Anfal (Spoils of War) as more effective approach to destroy the Kurdish guerrilla.
The trial continues.
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