Posted on 10/12/2004 5:36:26 PM PDT by cgk
Wednesday 13 October 2004, 1:47 Makka Time, 22:47 GMTInvestigators probing mass graves in Iraq have conducted their first scientific exhumation of bodies.
Hoping to unearth crucial evidence that could help in convicting deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, investigators said nine trenches in a dry riverbed at the Hatra site in northern Iraq contained at least 300 bodies, and possibly thousands.
Those buried included children still clutching toys.
"It is my personal opinion that this is a killing field," said Greg Kehoe, a US lawyer appointed by the White House to work with the Iraqi Special Tribunal.
"Someone used this field on significant occasions over time to take bodies up there and to take people up there and execute them".
"I have been doing grave sites for a long time, but I have never seen anything like this, women and children executed for no apparent reason," Kehoe said. "It's a perfect place for execution".
Kurdish victims
The victims are believed to be minority Kurds killed during 1987-88. One trench contains only women and children, apparently killed by small arms. Another contains only men, apparently killed by automatic gunfire.
Some of the mothers died still holding their children. One young boy still held a ball in his tiny arms.
International organisations estimate more than 300,000 people died under Saddam's 24-year rule and Iraq's Human Rights ministry has identified 40 possible mass graves countrywide.
Authorities hope careful investigations of the site will provide enough evidence to convict Saddam and other senior members of his regime.
Though investigators have excavated smaller mass graves before, scientific exhumation is being done for the first time.
 |
|
Saddam (R) is likely to face trial |
Saddam is expected to face trial for crimes against humanity next year. Investigators are still pursuing evidence.
He is accused of widespread abuses against the Kurds, including a particularly gruesome campaign in 1988 when mustard gas was deployed against the population.
During his reign, Saddam pushed hundreds of thousands of Arabs into Kurdish areas to force the locals out. He is accused of widespread abuses against the Kurds, including the "Anfal" (The Spoils) campaign in 1988, during which thousands died in a mustard gas attack.
Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 50,000 Kurds were killed during the campaign.
Yep, we should've let them inspectors do their job before rushing to war. This is the kind of thing President Bush ought to nail that POS Kerry with the next time he says we rushed to war.
I guess Al Jazeera figures they'd better get on the right side of this since the trials will begin soon. They're also hurting because viewership in Iraq has dropped to below 12%, a real slap in the face to them.
Think about that number. That means that he killed 1,042 people each and every month. How long did the french stall us in the SC meetings? How much blood does the UN have on it's hands?
And I'm sure there are dogooders monitoring every minute of Sadam's imprisionment to be sure he is treated humanely and no one humiliates him. Only God can actually give this thing his just dues, and He will, we can be assured.
Exactly what the terrorists did to the pregnant Israeli woman Tali Jatuel and her 3 little daughters. More of Saddam;s training going around? Hideous. What keeps me sane is knowing they'll have to answer for this some day. If we're lucky - soon and here on earth.
Initially when I found the story - there were only a couple shared links in Google news - the most prominent was MSNBC. Now a search shows just about everyone. But I have yet to hear it discussed on Fox News, at the very least. It's been on all day, though I could've missed it.
Here are some more facts that back up your statement:
I flip through all the TV news & have heard nothing.
Halperin's already killed this at ABC with his gag order.
Agreed.
I grieve for Churchill's and Roosevelt's United Nations. Look what the secular humanists and fellow travellers have done to it since those days. Nowadays a dictator slings bribes at the French, German, etc diplomats and buys the UN decision-making process. Yet the MSM buries this story!
The UN is now the globe's biggest jerrymander and the most corrupt and sleazy diplomatic pig pen ever to blight humanity.
Muslims have been MASS murdering civilians for over a thousand years(1426+).. Whats new.. before 9/11 most could care less.. Every country islam has invaded this has happened not once but continally.. Sadaam was you're normal muslim in history not the exception...
It may be all over the media tomorrow.
Can anyone help me with this?
I posted this on another forum, rampant with libs. The argument the have is that it's Reagan's fault for supplying SH with weapons in the first place. Any advice?
"While evidence from the graves cannot be linked directly to Saddam himself, they are likely to be cited as proof of mass murder on a scale that could only be state-sanctioned."
http://www.lebanonwire.com/0312/03122110TGR.asp
This sort of thing makes me nauseous!!!!!! UGH.
Thanks for your posting. This must never be forgotten
Here's what I know. I don't know if this will help you at all.
Iraq signed a treaty with the Soviet Union, during the Cold War in 1972. The USSR was their primary arms source even before the Iraq/Iran war.
They made a load of money during that time because of the oil crisis. I doubt the revenue went into schools so much as military might. They had Iran next door and the US backing the kurds in the north.
Saddam had already established himself as a "hardline" deputy, and he "assumed" the presidency in 1979, the year after they started killing members of opposition parties. His rivals for the presidency were all murdered within days of his takeover.
Reagan was elected in 1980 (81). The US wasn't supporting Iraq until 1982, when our relationship with Iran had soured thanks to their move to RADICAL ISLAM.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.