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Iraq

All agreed: Chemical Ali will swing

2007-09-04

BAGHDAD (AP) - An Iraqi appeals court on Tuesday upheld death sentences imposed against 'Chemical Ali' al-Majid and two other Saddam Hussein lieutenants convicted of crimes against humanity for their roles in a massacre of Kurds, a judge said.

The Iraqi High Tribunal upheld his death sentence in a majority decision, as well as those of former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, former deputy director of operations for the Iraqi Armed Forces, according to appellate court judge Munir Hadad. He said the government must carry out the executions within a 30-day period.

All three were convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in June for their role in the brutal crackdown that killed up to 180,000 Kurdish civilians and guerrillas two decades ago known as "Operation Anfal." Life sentences were also upheld for Farhan Mutlaq Saleh, former head of military intelligence's eastern regional office, and Sabir al-Douri, former director of military intelligence, Hadad said.

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#3 I'm to be condemned for getting so out of touch with the whole process that I'm not even sure where things stand, but I suspect the timing of this is slightly unfortunate as Ali Quimiyawi's starring role in the 1991 case is as yet unfinished. Unfortunately the 30-day law passed by the Iraqis ties everyone's hands. Yes, yes, there's never an ideal time for some things, but Ali's main roles were in Anfal and 1991, so the hemp party would be better held after the 1991 case is finished. Media snarking and bias aside, many Iraqis do follow these cases and do show an interest in the evidence presented and probably (if even unconsciously) pick up an idea or two about due process along the way.

Posted by: Verlaine 2007-09-04 19:38

#2 Let the Kurds do it. They can auction off the various roles like executioner, noose-setter, knot-tier, piano-wire provider, witness, cameraman, director, resuscitator, etc. on e-bay.

Posted by: gorb 2007-09-04 16:40

#1 True poetic justice would be to have someone from the region of Kurdistan where the mustard gas was used pull the lever for the trap door at the gallows. Let his face be the last one the 3 bastards see before their journey to Hell, and make sure they know who he is...

Posted by: BigEd 2007-09-04 16:36

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