One aftermath of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime is the "embarrassment", for want of a better word, that those who have been given his name feel.
Saddam Hussein al-Majid, like many others with similar names, is now trying to change his.
He is now trying to avoid paying with his life for holding this name. He wants to change the first name on his birth certificate to Sajad, favored by Shiites. Mr Hussein, a Shiite Arab, is aware that militiamen from his own sect might assume he belonged to the former ruling Sunni Arab minority.
Iraq's current near civil war, so vehemently denied by the UK and US, is forcing many Iraqis to eradicate their names.
With the sectarian violence rising, Iraqis fear that the name on an identification card, passport or other document could become an instant death sentence if seen by the wrong people.
How can anyone claim that this country is not falling apart, when ordinary people have to hide their own names in shame and fear?
So much for "mission accomplished".
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
The Truth Dawns
Address by Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson, Washington Square Salt Lake City, Utah on August 30 2006.
Extract:
We are here to demand: "Give us the truth!"
Extract:
We are here to demand: "Give us the truth!"
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
South Park The Movie
During the Edinburgh festival, Matt Stone hosting a TV festival's "South Park Masterclass" told the audience that Saddam Hussein has been subjected to "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" whilst in jail.
This is the animated feature-length film, in which Saddam is portrayed as Satan's selfish and meanspirited gay lover.
Seemingly, Saddam is forced to watch the movie "repeatedly" by the US Marines guarding him.
This is the animated feature-length film, in which Saddam is portrayed as Satan's selfish and meanspirited gay lover.
Seemingly, Saddam is forced to watch the movie "repeatedly" by the US Marines guarding him.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Trader Fights Extradition
Dr John Irving, a British oil trader, is fighting extradition to the USA on charges of allegedly paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime.
Should Dr Irving be extradited, and convicted, he faces up to 62 years in prison; he denies the charges.
Dr Irving's solicitor, Andrew Preston, has asked the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service to examine charges laid down in a federal indictment.
He wants the charges to be investigated in Britain, rather than face extradition. In the US he may be denied bail, and held in a high security prison.
The extradition request made by the US is under the same controversial law as the NatWest Three, who are awaiting trial in Houston.
The law has been criticised as it was originally drafted to fight terrorism, now it is being used against alleged "white collar" crime.
Dr Irving is accused of assisting in the illegal payment of millions of dollars to Iraqi officials, in exchange for deals to buy discounted oil.
Dr Irving is the only Briton to have been indicted for corrupt behaviour under the UN's Oil-for-Food programme.
It is alleged that Dr Irving was working for Bayoil, a US oil trading company, and sent faxes to Iraq containing market information between 1997 and 2003. He is accused of paying inflated commissions to oil dealers in Iraq, while knowing that some of the money was being paid to the Iraqi regime. The indictment alleges that Dr Irving was one of those responsible for diverting funds from the Oil-for-Food programme.
Should Dr Irving be extradited, and convicted, he faces up to 62 years in prison; he denies the charges.
Dr Irving's solicitor, Andrew Preston, has asked the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service to examine charges laid down in a federal indictment.
He wants the charges to be investigated in Britain, rather than face extradition. In the US he may be denied bail, and held in a high security prison.
The extradition request made by the US is under the same controversial law as the NatWest Three, who are awaiting trial in Houston.
The law has been criticised as it was originally drafted to fight terrorism, now it is being used against alleged "white collar" crime.
Dr Irving is accused of assisting in the illegal payment of millions of dollars to Iraqi officials, in exchange for deals to buy discounted oil.
Dr Irving is the only Briton to have been indicted for corrupt behaviour under the UN's Oil-for-Food programme.
It is alleged that Dr Irving was working for Bayoil, a US oil trading company, and sent faxes to Iraq containing market information between 1997 and 2003. He is accused of paying inflated commissions to oil dealers in Iraq, while knowing that some of the money was being paid to the Iraqi regime. The indictment alleges that Dr Irving was one of those responsible for diverting funds from the Oil-for-Food programme.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Iraq Had Nothing To Do With 9/11
In case you were wondering, Bush now admits that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
President Bush was last week explaining how the attacks of 9/11 inspired his "freedom agenda" and the attacks on Iraq until a reporter, Ken Herman of Cox News, interrupted to ask what Iraq had to do with 9/11.
"Nothing", Bush answered.
To justify the war, Bush informed Congress on March 19, 2003 that acting against Iraq was consistent with "continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organisations, including those nations, organisations, or persons who planned, authorised, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."
QUESTION: A lot of the consequences you mentioned for pulling out seem like maybe they never would have been there if we hadn't gone in. How do you square all of that?
BUSH: I square it because imagine a world in which you had Saddam Hussein, who had the capacity to make a weapon of mass destruction, who was paying suiciders to kill innocent life, who had relations with Zarqawi.
You know, I've heard this theory about, you know, everything was just fine until we arrived [in Iraq] and — you know, the stir-up-the-hornet's-nest theory. It just doesn't hold water, as far as I'm concerned.
The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East. They were..
QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Centre.
BUSH: Nothing. . . . .Except for it's part of — and nobody's ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September the 11th is: Take threats before they fully materialise..
Watch the clip here "Nothing"
President Bush was last week explaining how the attacks of 9/11 inspired his "freedom agenda" and the attacks on Iraq until a reporter, Ken Herman of Cox News, interrupted to ask what Iraq had to do with 9/11.
"Nothing", Bush answered.
To justify the war, Bush informed Congress on March 19, 2003 that acting against Iraq was consistent with "continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organisations, including those nations, organisations, or persons who planned, authorised, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."
QUESTION: A lot of the consequences you mentioned for pulling out seem like maybe they never would have been there if we hadn't gone in. How do you square all of that?
BUSH: I square it because imagine a world in which you had Saddam Hussein, who had the capacity to make a weapon of mass destruction, who was paying suiciders to kill innocent life, who had relations with Zarqawi.
You know, I've heard this theory about, you know, everything was just fine until we arrived [in Iraq] and — you know, the stir-up-the-hornet's-nest theory. It just doesn't hold water, as far as I'm concerned.
The terrorists attacked us and killed 3,000 of our citizens before we started the freedom agenda in the Middle East. They were..
QUESTION: What did Iraq have to do with that?
BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
QUESTION: The attacks upon the World Trade Centre.
BUSH: Nothing. . . . .Except for it's part of — and nobody's ever suggested in this administration that Saddam Hussein ordered the attack. Iraq was a — Iraq — the lesson of September the 11th is: Take threats before they fully materialise..
Watch the clip here "Nothing"
Friday, August 25, 2006
Trial Adjourned
Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against the Kurds has been adjourned for three weeks until September 11.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Worse Than Hitler
Saddam Hussein's second trial continues. During Tuesday's session, Ali Mostafa Hama, a survivor of the Anfal campaign, told the court that he saw 8 to 12 planes drop bombs on his village during the incident.
He went on to say that he saw a green gas leak from the bombs, which caused people to vomit and be blinded as they inhaled the gas. He watched a baby die.
Today Najib Khudair Ahmad, a Kurdish woman, testified before the judges. Her face had been scarred by a chemical weapon attack on her village of Sheikwasan, which also made her blind.
She described Saddam as being "worse than Hitler".
"Saddam Hussein used to shout about 'the Iraqi people'
If we were his people, why did he bomb us with all sorts of weapons?"
The prosecutor said that over one thousand testimonies from victims had been recorded, and "65 to 75 witnesses will testify".
It is expected that the proceedings of the Anfal trial will last around four months.
He went on to say that he saw a green gas leak from the bombs, which caused people to vomit and be blinded as they inhaled the gas. He watched a baby die.
Today Najib Khudair Ahmad, a Kurdish woman, testified before the judges. Her face had been scarred by a chemical weapon attack on her village of Sheikwasan, which also made her blind.
She described Saddam as being "worse than Hitler".
"Saddam Hussein used to shout about 'the Iraqi people'
If we were his people, why did he bomb us with all sorts of weapons?"
The prosecutor said that over one thousand testimonies from victims had been recorded, and "65 to 75 witnesses will testify".
It is expected that the proceedings of the Anfal trial will last around four months.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Saddam Refuses To Enter A Plea
Saddam Hussein's second trial began yesterday. He is accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the alleged anti-Kurdish Anfal campaign in late 1980's.
However, he refused to enter a plea.
He was in the dock with six co-defendants, including; his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, popularly known as "Chemical Ali," for allegedly ordering poison gas attacks against Kurds, especially Halabja attack, former Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad, former intelligence chief Saber Abdul Aziz al-Douri, former Republican Guard Commander Hussein al-Tirkiti, former Nineveh Provincial Governor Taher Tafwiq al-Ani and former top military commander Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri.
The prosecution accused Saddam of ordering the Anfal campaign, and charged all the defendants with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Anfal campaign aimed at clearing the Kurdish along the border with Iran.
Saddam claimed that the special tribunal was illegal and refused to state his identity, only identifying himself as "the president of the republic and commander-in-chief of the armed forces."
He also refused to enter a plea when asked by chief judge Abdullah al-Amiri.
Al-Majid also refused to plead.
Al-Amiri, a Shiite, then entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of them.
The verdict of Saddam's first trial will be given of October 16th. Saddam will face death penalty by hanging if found guilty.
It is unclear whether the sentence would be carried out before the Anfal trial is concluded.
It would have been far better to conduct a Nuremberg style trial, where all crimes would have been placed before the court in one trial.
However, he refused to enter a plea.
He was in the dock with six co-defendants, including; his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, popularly known as "Chemical Ali," for allegedly ordering poison gas attacks against Kurds, especially Halabja attack, former Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad, former intelligence chief Saber Abdul Aziz al-Douri, former Republican Guard Commander Hussein al-Tirkiti, former Nineveh Provincial Governor Taher Tafwiq al-Ani and former top military commander Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri.
The prosecution accused Saddam of ordering the Anfal campaign, and charged all the defendants with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Anfal campaign aimed at clearing the Kurdish along the border with Iran.
Saddam claimed that the special tribunal was illegal and refused to state his identity, only identifying himself as "the president of the republic and commander-in-chief of the armed forces."
He also refused to enter a plea when asked by chief judge Abdullah al-Amiri.
Al-Majid also refused to plead.
Al-Amiri, a Shiite, then entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of them.
The verdict of Saddam's first trial will be given of October 16th. Saddam will face death penalty by hanging if found guilty.
It is unclear whether the sentence would be carried out before the Anfal trial is concluded.
It would have been far better to conduct a Nuremberg style trial, where all crimes would have been placed before the court in one trial.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Second Trial Begins Today
Saddam Hussein starts his second trial today, this time in connection with an anti-Kurdish offensive in 1987 and 1988.
About 100,000 people are thought to have died in Operation Anfal ("spoils").
Seven defendants face charges of war crimes and/or genocide.
Saddam and seven different defendants have already been tried for the killing of 148 Shias in Dujail in 1982. A verdict on that is due on 16 October.
About 100,000 people are thought to have died in Operation Anfal ("spoils").
Seven defendants face charges of war crimes and/or genocide.
Saddam and seven different defendants have already been tried for the killing of 148 Shias in Dujail in 1982. A verdict on that is due on 16 October.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Saddam To Face Genocide Charges
Saddam Hussein returns to court on Monday, to face genocide charges relating to the 1987-1988 repression of Iraq's Kurdish minority.
The verdict in the recently finished trial against Saddam is still pending. However, attention is now being focussed on the "Anfal Campaign" (anfal is Arabic for "spoils"). It is alleged that around 100000 Kurds were killed, and 3000 Northern Iraqi villages destroyed.
A panel of Iraqi judges sitting in the Iraqi High Tribunal will hear the case, others are expected to follow.
Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Mussawi will open proceedings on Monday.
Saddam and his six co-defendants will be defended by 12 defence counsel.
Facing charges alongside Saddam will be; Chemical Ali, intelligence director Sabir al-Duri, Mosul governor Taher al-Ani, Anfal commander Sultan Hashim al-Tai, operations chief Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti and intelligence officer Farhan al-Juburi.
The verdict in the recently finished trial against Saddam is still pending. However, attention is now being focussed on the "Anfal Campaign" (anfal is Arabic for "spoils"). It is alleged that around 100000 Kurds were killed, and 3000 Northern Iraqi villages destroyed.
A panel of Iraqi judges sitting in the Iraqi High Tribunal will hear the case, others are expected to follow.
Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Mussawi will open proceedings on Monday.
Saddam and his six co-defendants will be defended by 12 defence counsel.
Facing charges alongside Saddam will be; Chemical Ali, intelligence director Sabir al-Duri, Mosul governor Taher al-Ani, Anfal commander Sultan Hashim al-Tai, operations chief Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti and intelligence officer Farhan al-Juburi.
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