Halabja Remembered

We must never forget what Saddam did. We must help the Kurds!

Halabja: Not to Be Forgotten

The world ended for many on March 16, 1988.

By the end of the day, over five thousand civilians lie dead or dying, and over ten thousand more are crippled, blind, or cannot breathe. The worst chemical weapons attack since the First World War has taken its toll on this mountainous border town.

None could imagine that just fifteen years and three days later, paratroopers would be falling from the skies; shaking hands and giving food and water, instead of chemical shells. Over the next three weeks, the people of Halabja, and all of the world watched as one of the worst regimes in human history fell to the might of will. Within months, students from Tehran University demanded to know why their country is not liberated.

Not more than one and a half years earlier, forces of the Northern Alliance, formerly led by Ahmad Shah Massoud, rolled their rusty T-55 tanks down the thoroughfares of Kabul and into the celebrating masses of ordinary folk.

Just four and a half years after the fall of the capital of Afghanistan to the mujahadeen, the people of Beirut staged illegal demonstrations in order to secure free expression; that Lebanon is the property of Lebanon’s people, and of no foreigners. Just last year they had free elections.

What do all of these events have in common? They all share the thread of people’s yearning to be free. With the help of outsiders of thousands of miles away, speaking in foreign tongues and worshipping at different houses, this was accomplished. But how?

For one of the first times in Middle Eastern history, it is becoming accepted to raise one’s voice, and to say what one wants to say, and not what one’s forced to say. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, democracy has sprung forth with tangible force. In Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, people are experiencing their first inkling of a constitutionalist society. Even in Iran, Libya, and Saudi Arabia are people starting to shake off the ashes of fascism and learning that they can be heard.

In 1938, the Third Reich was staring hungrily at the central European democracy of Czechoslovakia, while outside powers debated what to do. All knew that National Socialist Germany had remilitarized the Rhineland, seized the Saar, and had just invaded Austria under “peaceful” guises. The government of Czechoslovakia, under Eduard Benes, saw the lies of the Nazi regime and broadcast them for the Western democracies to hear. This would not just end in the Sudetenland, as Hitler had promised, but also spread to Prague, Memel, Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Paris. No one listened to the wise man, for no true prophet is taken at their word.

The democracies balked and gave into the “reasonable” demands of Germany. Not only this, but they had the supreme lack of foresight to declare “peace in our time.”

But Benes was right. Within six months, all of Czechia was in the hands of the Nazis, and just six months after that, the Wermacht was crossing the border into Poland. Just eight months after that, the Maginot line was nothing more than a heap of concrete and steel.

Today, the cries of appeasement and Chamberlainism can be heard loudly today, echoed from the West; but unfortunately, as in 1938, those that would benefit from such a policy are feeding the fire of evil and hegemony. Today, those nations that were given up to Hitler, then conquered by Stalin have screamed again, this time to let us know what they went through. These nations, like the Czech Republic, Holland, and Poland, had no second thoughts providing their best support to the anti-fascist movement against dictatorship in the Middle East, led by the United States. Now, women can go outside their house in Kandahar without a veil on, and people can speak their mind in Mosul, without their wife and daughter being raped.

This dream is on the precipice, though. It has marginally succeeded in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, and is spreading like the Holy Word to the rest of the Middle East. If this is pressed by those that have known despotism and wish to see it ended throughout mankind, possibly it could succeed.

There will be obstacles. Ba’athists continue to murder children with the help of their al Qaeda allies. Ba’athism is still in control in Syria, running a despotism that is a hotbed of terror. The Islamic Revolution still reigns in Tehran, where it is seeking man’s worst weapons for man’s worst reasons while denying man’s worst crime. In Saudi Arabia, freedom is appearing too slow and in Azerbaijan; elections do not seem as fair as they should be.

Still, despite all of these hurdles, inaction would be far worse than anything that the partners of freedom could do. Halabja would be seen as a glorious act, September 11^th, 2001, will be seen as a relatively low-casualty day, and the people of the world will think Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti a mild man compared to those that replaced him. To turn away now, at the turning point, would be the same as the Munich agreement of 1938. It will fill our hearts with hope and our brains with images of a false peace. This time, when the troops cross the Polish border, they will not be riding on Panzer IIs, they will be strapped with weapons of mass destruction, which will at first be used for its name’s sake, and then will be used as blackmail for mass injustice.

Then the world would end for everyone else.

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The Progress of Kurdistan

From Halabja to freedom to prosperity.

Halabja Remembered

We must never forget what Saddam did. We must help the Kurds!

Kurds Say Thank You, America

Always Remember Halabja

Today is the anniversary of one of the worst war crimes in human history. Twenty-one years ago today the forces of Saddam Hussein used weapons of mass destruction to annihilate over five thousand civilians in the Kurdish city of Halabja.

This was part of the genocidal Anfal Campaign, named after a Surah in the Koran. This was Saddam's final solution to his Kurdish problem.

We must never forget. This is why we are at war. This is why we must win. This is why we will win.

Saddam's Worst Crime

Never forget.

Word of the Day

Disrespect

The anti-war movement has nothing but disrespect for the victims of Halabja.

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Proof of Saddam's WMDs

This is a copy of something I wrote on the Investor's Iraq Forum. Enjoy.

Bush never stated that Iraq was a direct or imminent threat to us. In fact, he stated the opposite during one of his biggest speeches before the war. From the 2003 State of the Union:

Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?

As for chemical weapons that were a threat to us, we're forgetting the potential of Saddam's WMD. Contrary to popular belief, most of his WMD capacity was NOT given or sold to him by the United States. In fact, the vast majority was provided by Russia (his number one arms partner), East Germany, and Poland. The United States, under President Reagan allowed biological weapons components to be sold to the Iraqi regime, but was not the primary seller.

Sarin nerve gas was produced in the tons by Saddam's government in the 1980s. One liquid drop of this could kill an adult male. The Iraqi regime created and stockpiled even more deadly nerve gases, like cyclosarin and VX. Even ten shells filled with these chemicals could kill hundreds, or thousands in an enclosed ventilation system. And Saddam admitted to having at least 30,000 in 1991. The Iraqis had a bad habit of not labeling their chemical weapons shells. Of all of the millions of shells safely detonated by ordinance personnel, hundreds or thousands could have been VX, Sarin, Tabun, or Cyclosarin.

Sarin and mustard gas are fairly easy to construct, and considering the Iraqis had the blueprints and experience, it was only a matter of time that the stockpiles were rebuilt. These were seen as vital as a bulwark against Iran and Israel.

And Saddam's WMD stockpile wouldn't be used against us directly. Duh. With various bases in the region, the Kurds, Israel, and Saudi Arabia nearby, there was no reason to risk transporting the materials 11,000 miles. He could easily hit Americans in his own back yard. Or more likely, complete the Anfal Campaign when we weren't looking.

Of course oil is a major factor in the war. You don't invade a country with either the 2nd or 3rd biggest oil reserves in the world and not factor that in. And considering the fact that almost all of Iraq's oil is either in the Kurdish region or close to the Kuwaiti border (in the desert where no one lives), if oil was the only or chief concern, it could be secured and held even without toppling Saddam. Besides, these wells haven't been given to American or British petroleum corporations, which could have easily paid for the war. You cannot leave a dictator who invaded three of his neighbors and shot ballistic missiles at two others in control of this vast oil wealth. And considering that he was funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar al-Islam (to name just a few), this money was directly funding the deaths of Israelis and Lebanese.

If Bush really lied (or even really exagerrated) claims about WMD, it would be in short order that American chemical weapons from the Cold War (which we're disposing of anyway) would be sent as stand-ins. Considering if Bush and his Administration would know ahead that they were lying, this would have been done before the troops entered Baghdad.

This isn't about Bush. If Clinton or Gore were President, toppling Saddam would have been the right thing. It just so happened that Bush was the person who did it. Considering the threat that Saddam held for the region, it was by far a great decision. To deny that would fly in the face of fact, not opinion.

Thank You President Bush

Although it is the last day of President George W. Bush's administration, I feel it fitting and proper to say what's on my chest.

Thank you, Mister President.

Thank you for keeping us safe.
Thank you for removing the worst dictator on the planet.
Thank you for freeing Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, and Haiti.
Thank you for helping free Kyrgystan, the Ukraine, and Kosovo.
Thank you for standing for democracy in Iran, Russia, and Tibet.
Thank you for supporting Israel.
Thank you for strengthening our alliances.
Thank you for looking out for the little guy.
Thank you for taking on dictatorship and terrorism.
Thank you for spreading democracy in the Middle East and Latin America.
Thank you for not relenting.
Thank you for comforting us in troubled times.
Thank you for putting up with so much.
Thank you for being honest and decent.
Thank you for having integrity.
Thank you for being there.
Thank you for remembering Halabja.
Thank you for remembering the fallen.
Thank you for not tiring. Thank you for not wavering. Thank you for not faltering. Thank you for not failing.

Pearl Harbor Will Not be Forgotten

Today, the 67th Anniversary of the carnage of Pearl Harbor is still pertinent to today. With the aftermath of the September 11th atrocities, we cannot forget that the forces of aggression are still out there. They're still looking to fight the innocent and take down the defenders of freedom.

Today we are fighting another form of evil. They are willing to drop nerve gas on children and fly planes into buildings. These animals must be stopped.

We will never forget.

Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death Again

From our friends at WorldThreats. Saddam Hussein's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, infamous for his role in the Halabja massacre, was sentenced to death again. This time it was for his crushing of the Shi'ite intifada in 1991.

Majid, Saddam Hussein’s cousin, attempted his own theatrics, but the judge would have no part of it:

Judge Khalifa said Mr. Majid was guilty of crimes against humanity. Mr. Majid remained calm, but Mr. Ani shouted: “I welcome death if it is for Iraq, for pan-Arabism and for the Baath. Down with the American and Persian occupation!”

The judge responded, “Shut up.”

Fitting words.

Now, I oppose the death penalty, but if anyone deserves it, it's him. Keep the bastard alive so he can see the progress and success of Kurdistan, despite the malevolent and atrocious acts he leveled against it. Let him watch the Kurdish people become more than Saddam could ever do. Let him watch as Iraq and Kuwait (which he was installed governor during the Iraqi occupation) rise.

Biji Kordestan!

In Defense of Obama

Now, I didn't vote for Obama. I didn't want him to become the next President. The chances of my voting for him are relatively low. However, he will be my President.

And I'm reading such terrible things as this: that people are threatening the President-Elect? Now you can say you won't vote for someone, but this is ridiculous. To threaten a man's life who hasn't done anything to hurt people is horrific. Keep in mind that he has two young children. I know I've been critical of the man, but to go from civil discourse to threatening violence is exactly what America isn't.

In addition, there's talk of an Obama dictatorship? Please... if the guy has despotic plans, he has yet to expose them. When he bans guns... okay, he might want to be crowned emperor.

I hope that Republicans do not fall prey to simplistic hatred. This is the exact thing which has stonewalled and damaged President Bush. This blind hatred, combined with stupidity has led to inane statements like, "There were no WMDs" and how things were better under our handsome friend Saddam.

So let Obama take office before becoming too critical. And thoughts of violence are not only unfounded, but irrational.