Maurice, the only thing preventing Saddam from becoming another Hitler or Stalin was the U.S. military. The rest of the world didn't have the guts to stop this madman. Given a different time and different motivated superpower, the world would look quite different today. And remember, the vote in our Congress supporting the removal of Hussein's forces from Kuwait passed by ONE vote.
Here is a little factual history:
1980 - Iraq invaded Iran, Casualties:
Iran - 225,000. Iraq 250,000 - 500,000.
1986 - 1989 The Anfal campaign, a genocidal campaign against Kurds. Casualties:
100,000 to 200,000 civilians killed
1990 - Iraq invaded Kuwait. Casualties 1,000.
1991, after Saddam lost Kuwait, he cracked down ruthlessly against several uprisings in the Kurdish north and the Shia south.
Casualties:
20,000 to 100,000 for Kurds
60,000 to 130,000 for Shi'ites.
These numbers reflect only what we're aware of. Mass graves point toward other large scale atrocities. And who knows how many bodies lie beneath the sands of Iraq?
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