Transcript War in Iraq
Objective: To examine the history of conflict between Saddam Hussein, the former leader of Iraq, and the United States. Persian Gulf War: · In 1990, Iraq invaded their oil rich neighbor of Kuwait. World Rank: Wealth Kuwait – 9th Iraq – 108th Operation Desert Storm (3:25) · In 1991, the U.N. sent troops from 28 nations to attack Iraq and force their troops out of Kuwait. The entire war lasted only six weeks. Persian Gulf War – Allied Nation Troop Levels Kuwait: 7,000 United States: 575,000 Pakistan: 5,500 Saudi Arabia: 52,000 Canada: 4,500 Turkey: 50,000 Spain: 3,000 United Kingdom: 43,000 United Arab Emirates: 2,000 Egypt: 35,000 Morocco: 2,000 Syria: 16,000 Bangladesh: 2,000 France: 14,663 Qatar: 1000 Oman: 950 Italy: 800 Niger: 500 Bahrain: 200 Senegal: 200 Czechoslovakia: 200 Netherlands: 200 Honduras: 150 Ground operations of Operation Desert Storm from February 24-28, 1991. Kurdish No-Fly Zone Shiite No-Fly Zone Saddam Hussein: Crimes and Human Rights Abuses A report on the human cost of Saddam’s policies by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (Great Britain, 2002) The Treatment of Women Najat Mohammed Haydar, an obstetrician in Baghdad, was beheaded in October 2000 apparently on suspicion of prostitution, according to Amnesty International. Even by Iraqi standards her execution was an outrage. There was no evidence to support the charge of prostitution and she was reportedly arrested before the introduction of the policy to behead prostitutes. The real reason for her death was her criticism of corruption in the Iraqi health service. Persecution of the Kurds • In 1983, approximately 8,000 Kurdish males aged 13 and upwards were arrested and executed. • Amnesty International estimates that over 100,000 Kurds were killed from 1987-1988, many through the use of chemical weapons, in an effort to put down a Kurdish insurgency. • According to Human Rights Watch, a single attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja killed up to 5,000 civilians and injured some 10,000 more. CNN’s eyewitness to Halabja chemical attack (4:50) Saddam Hussein’s Regime’s Methods of Torture The following methods of torture have all been reported to international human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, by the victims of torture or their families. Eye gouging Amnesty International reported the case of a Kurdish businessman in Baghdad who was executed in 1997. When his family retrieved his body, the eyes had been gouged out and the empty eye sockets stuffed with paper. Piercing of hands with electric drill A common method of torture for political detainees. Amnesty International reported one victim who then had acid poured into his open wounds. Suspension from the ceiling Victims are blindfolded, stripped and suspended for hours by their wrists, often with their hands tied behind their backs. This causes dislocation of shoulders and tearing of muscles and ligaments. Electric shock A common torture method. Shocks are applied to various parts of the body, including the genitals, ears, tongue and fingers. Other physical torture Extinguishing cigarettes on various parts of the body, extraction of fingernails and toenails and beatings with canes, whips, hose pipes and metal rods are common. Mock executions Victims are told that they are to be executed by firing squad and a mock execution is staged. Victims are hooded and brought before a firing squad, who then fire blank rounds. Acid baths David Scheffer, US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes, reported that photographic evidence showed that Iraq had used acid baths during the invasion of Kuwait. Victims were hung by their wrists and gradually lowered into the acid. Invasion of Iraq: In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq, overthrowing and capturing their leader, Saddam Hussein. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein May 2, 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln · Pres. Bush stated that the war in Iraq was necessary in order to prevent Hussein from using weapons of mass destruction against the U.S. or our allies in the future. Saddam Hussein prior after tohis during the being trial U.S. in Iraq invasion captured for of by 2003. committing U.S. soldiers. crimes against the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein is shown immediately before his execution by hanging. This photo was taken by a guard with his camera phone in violation of official orders. · The U.S. officially ended their combat role in Iraq in the summer of 2010. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. talking with soldiers at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad. (July 4, 2009) Iraqis Celebrate U.S. Troop Withdrawals – 6/30/09 (3:03) US troops will stay in Iraq until December 2011 (2:52)