Eyewitness Accounts from the International Press
This is a selection of articles from the English-language press describing some of the Iraqi government's practices. The articles are grouped according to the type of practice that is a main focus of a particular article. Within each category, the articles are arranged in reverse chronological order. It should be emphasized that this list is far from exhaustive. The articles were selected on the basis of credibility and, as they were mostly culled from an electronic database, easy availability.
[OK, zonder, I posted a couple passages from the maximonline story yesterday. I chose this story because it illustrated luridly the sickness of Saddam's family relations. As you ought to know, there is a vast selection of reputable stories and articles out there documenting the nature of Saddam's regime and Saddam himself. Perhaps this selection of press references will prove this point. Dismissing Saddam's monstrosities by bringing up the "incubator baby" story is way off base. Bruce]
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1. Mass Deportations/Collective Punishment
2. Destruction of villages
3. Chemical and biological weapons-use
4. Anfal/Mass disappearances
5. Invasion and occupation of Kuwait
6. Rape
7. Individual torture/cruel and inhuman punishment
8. Environmental destruction
9. Destruction of religious shrines
10. General conditions
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Mass Deportations/Collective Punishment
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"Saddam Onslaught Aims to Kill off Marsh Arabs," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, February 28, 1993.
"Murder in the Marshes," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, February 28, 1993.
"Iraqi drainage scheme cripples Marsh Arabs," Robert Fisk, The Independent, February 27, 1993.
"A Twilight of Blood and Fear in Iraq," David Hirst, The Guardian, February 13, 1993.
"Kurds Build Their State in the Shadow of Saddam," David Hirst, The Guardian, February 12, 1993.
"The Turning of a People," David Hirst, The Guardian, February 11, 1993.
"Saddam tightens his grip on Iraq's Shias," Charles Richards, The Independent, January 27, 1993.
"Iraq Accused: A Case of Genocide," Judith Miller, The New York Times Magazine, January 3, 1993.
"Marsh Arabs Fail to Escape the Wrath of Saddam," Julie Flint, The Observer, November 29, 1992.
"From Iraq's slough of despond," Emma Nicholson, The Wall Street Journal, October 9, 1992.
"Saddam Killing Shias 'Daily'; Thousands Rounded up and Villages Shelled in Answer to No Fly Zone," Julie Flint, The Observer, October 4, 1992.
"A barefoot band wages war in the Iraqi marshland; With little to sustain them, rebels press their fights against Saddam," Carol Morello, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 4, 1992.
"Gunfire in the Garden of Eden; Hard-Pressed Shiite Rebels Battle Saddam Hussein In the Marshes of Southern Iraq. Reeds Hide the Fighters, but Troops 'Know from our Voice In the Night Where we Are,'" Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, October 3, 1992.
"Marsh Arabs under siege," Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, August 20, 1992.
"Iraq 'trying to wipe out Marsh Arabs,'" Leonard Doyle, The Independent, August 1, 1992.
"Tide Turns Against Marsh Arabs of Iraq," Patrick Cockburn, The Independent, May 7, 1992.
"A Race Wiped Out: Saddam's Operation Anfal," Tim Kelsey, The Independent on Sunday (The Sunday Review, pp. 8-9), January 26, 1992.
"Reports Lift Veil on Shi'ite Uprising in Iraq," Tony Horwitz, The Wall Street Journal, December 31, 1991.
"President Saddam Initiates Drive on Shi'ite Holy Cities," Liz Thurgood, The Guardian, July 23, 1991.
"Iraqi Holy Cities Become Armed Camps; Tapestry of Defeat Hangs Over Shiites Since Their Revolt Failed," Caryle Murphy, The Washington Post, June 30, 1991.
"Allies Let Saddam March Back into terrified Dohuk," Julie Flint, The Observer, June 16, 1991.
"Assault on Shias Hiding in Marshes," Julie Flint, The Observer, June 9, 1991.
"Iraqi Shiites Chafe Under Rule Of Saddam's Elite Military Corps," Kathleen Evans, The Christian Science Monitor, June 5, 1991.
"The Population of Basra Lives in fear of Political Recrimination and Cholera," Ed Vulliamy, The Guardian, May 18, 1991.
"Persecution of Shias Continues," Julie Flint, The Observer, May 12, 1991.
"The Kurds: In Flight Once Again," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, May 5, 1991.
"Blood and Haterd Stain Shrines at Holy Places," Ed Vulliamy, The Guardian, May 1, 1991.
"Trapped Shi'ites a Prey to Saddam Hussein's Machinery of Terror," David Hirst, The Guardian, April 29, 1991.
"Saddam Declares War on Shias as more Kurds Come Down from the Mountains," Julie Flint, The Observer, April 28, 1991.
"After the War; A Terrible Exodus, in Record Time," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, April 22, 1991.
"After the War: Kurdish Refugees From '88 Exodus Still Languishing in Turkish Camps," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, April 13, 1991.
"Death stalks the Kurdish exodus," Bob Collier, Margarette Driscoll, Andrew Alderson, Jaques-Marie Bouget, The Sunday Times, April 7, 1991.
"Loyalist Troups Recapture More Important Towns in Lightning Counter-Offensive," David Hirst, The Guardian, April 2, 1991.
"Saddam Hussein 'Offers Soldiers BOunty for Killing Babies' -- Shiites Face Retribution," Bob Drogin, The Guardian, March 29, 1991.
"Iraqi Refugees Tell U.S. Soldiers Of Brutal Repression of Rebellion," The New York Times, March 28, 1991.
"Saddam May Use Missiles on Kurds to retake Oil City," Julie Flint, The Observer, March 24, 1991.
"Saddam's Men Reimpose Terror on Those Suspected of Helping Shia Rebels," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, March 24, 1991.
"Bodies Litter Streets of an Iraqi Holy City Torn by Revolt," The New York Times, March 22, 1991.
"Rebels 'Hanged from Tank Barrels' by Saddam's Men," Sharif Imam-Jomeh and Nora Boustany, The Guardian, March 14, 1991.
"Crisis in the Gulf: Hostages tell of Basra's dead and dying," Robert Fisk, The Independent, March 9, 1991.
"Crisis in the Gulf: Revolt against Saddam spreads; Republican Guards shell Basra rebels as Kurds join uprising," Robert Fisk, The Independent, March 5, 1991.
"Iraq's grand executioner; Farzad Bazoft was only one of several thousand show trial victims under Saddam Hussein," Robert Fisk, The Independent, March 29, 1990.
"Execution in Iraq: Drawing back the veil on a republic of fear; Harvey Morris, Middle East Editor, examines the 11 years of suffering that have marked the dictatorship of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein," Harvey Morris, The Independent, March 16, 1990.
"Saddam accused of Shia town attacks," Harvey Morris, The Independent, January 26, 1990.
"Iraq Targets Kurds for Relocation; Western Embassies Report Violent Resistance to New Program," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, April 30, 1989.
"Mardin Journal; How the Kurds Are Cared For: 7 Months in Tents," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, March 31, 1989.
"The Kurds: It's Not Genocide; But Iraq's Policy of Repression and Relocation Is Still Horrific," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, September 25, 1988.
"Kurds Disappoint Iraqi PR Effort; Reporters Taken to Turkish Border to See Returnees, but None Show," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, September 18, 1988.
"What Drove the Kurds Out of Iraq?," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, September 13, 1988.
"Iraqi Official Says Kurds Fleeing Army Operation; Envoy Denies Use of Chemical Weapons," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, September 4, 1988.
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Destruction of villages
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"Saddam Onslaught Aims to Kill off Marsh Arabs," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, February 28, 1993.
"Murder in the Marshes," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, February 28, 1993.
"Iraq Accused: A Case of Genocide," Judith Miller, The New York Times Magazine, January 3, 1993.
"A barefoot band wages war in the Iraqi marshland; With little to sustain them, rebels press their fights against Saddam," Carol Morello, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 4, 1992.
"Gunfire in the Garden of Eden; Hard-Pressed Shiite Rebels Battle Saddam Hussein In the Marshes of Southern Iraq. Reeds Hide the Fighters, but Troops 'Know from our Voice In the Night Where we Are,'" Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, October 3, 1992.
"Deep in the Marshes of Iraq, Flames of Rebellion Flicker," Chris Hedges, The New York Times, March 15, 1992.
"Kurds Returning to Razed Villages," Chris Hedges, The New York Times, February 16, 1992.
"A Race Wiped Out: Saddam's Operation Anfal," Tim Kelsey, The Independent on Sunday (The Sunday Review, pp. 8-9), January 26, 1992.
"Loyalist Troups Recapture More Important Towns in Lightning Counter-Offensive," David Hirst, The Guardian, April 2, 1991.
"Saddam accused of Shia town attacks," Harvey Morris, The Independent, January 26, 1990.
"Kurds Can't Go Home Again Because the Homes Are Gone," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, September 18, 1988.
"Scorched Kurdish Villages Bear Witness to Iraqi Assault; Valley Was Targeted for Relocation Drive," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, September 17, 1988.
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Chemical and biological weapons-use
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"Halabja Journal; In Town Iraqis Gassed, Kurds Now Breathe Free," Patrick E. Tyler, The New York Times, November 18, 1991.
"The Middle East: Survivors go back to gas massacre town," Jim Muir, The Daily Telegraph, April 22, 1991.
"Behind the Grim Kurdish Flight," Jim Muir, The Christian Science Monitor, April 18, 1991. Shorter version of article appears as: "'We don't trust Saddam not to use chemical weapons on us again,' FEAR: The terrible memory driving Kurdish families to flee from their homeland," The Daily Telegraph, April 18, 1991.
"The horror of Halabja that should have warned the world," Nicholas Beeston, The Times, August 4, 1990.
"Both Iraq and Iran Gassed Kurds in War, U.S. Analysis Finds," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, May 3, 1990.
"Iraqi Warns Of Using Poison Gas; Leader Says Attacker Faces Devastation; U.S. Decries Remarks," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, April 3, 1990.
"Iraq's Dark Victory," Alan Cowell, The New York Times Magazine, September 25, 1988.
"Iraq Denies Using Chemical Weaponson Kurds," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, September 16, 1988.
"Iraq's Right to Chemical Arms Upheld by Official," Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, September 16, 1988.
"U.S. Says It Monitored Iraqi Messages on Gas," Robert Pear, The New York Times, September 15, 1988.
"Refugees Tell Of Gas Attacks," Jim Bodgener, Financial Times, September 3, 1988.
"U.N. to Study Alleged Iraqi Gas Raid; Security Council Authorizes Sending Investigators to Northwest Iran," Partick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, August 6, 1988.
"Iran Says 1,000 Injured in Gas Attack by Iraq," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, August 4, 1988.
"U.N. Cites Iraqi Use of Toxic Gas; Team Gives Evidence On Two Battles Prior To Iran's Truce Bid," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, August 2, 1988.
"Iraq Acknowledges Its Use of Gas But Says Iran Introduced It in War," Serge Schmemann, The New York Times, July 2, 1988.
"Victims of Gulf War Treated at Queens Hospital," Jennifer A. Kingson, The New York Times, April 6, 1988.
"Poison Gas Attack Kills Hundreds; Iran Accuses Iraq of Atrocity in Kurdish Region Near Border," Patrick E. Tyler, The Washington Post, March 24, 1988. Shorter version of article appears as: "Killing of Kurds Blamed on Baghdad; Gas Attack Envelops Iraqi Town in Cloud of Death," Los Angeles Times, March 24, 1988.
"Iraq Uses Chemical Bombs On Its Own Citizens," Andrew Gowers, Richard Johns, Financial Times, March 23, 1988.
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Anfal/Mass disappearances
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"Iraq Accused: A Case of Genocide," Judith Miller, The New York Times Magazine, January 3, 1993.
"Kurds' Bones Tell the Story," Elizabeth Sullivan, The Plain Dealer, May 17, 1992.
"A Race Wiped Out: Saddam's Operation Anfal," Tim Kelsey, The Independent on Sunday (The Sunday Review, pp. 8-9), January 26, 1992.
"Kurds Unearthing New Evidence of Iraqi Killings," Chris Hedges, The New York Times, December 7, 1991.
"The Middle East: Survivors go back to gas massacre town," Jim Muir, The Daily Telegraph, April 22, 1991.
"Behind the Grim Kurdish Flight," Jim Muir, The Christian Science Monitor, April 18, 1991. Shorter version of article appears as: "'We don't trust Saddam not to use chemical weapons on us again,' FEAR: The terrible memory driving Kurdish families to flee from their homeland," The Daily Telegraph, April 18, 1991.
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Invasion and occupation of Kuwait
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"Tales of the Resistance; Kuwaitis recount abuse, abductions by Iraqis," Ken Fireman, Newsday, March 12, 1991.
"Crisis in the Gulf: Witnesses tell of Iraqi atrocities," Nicholas Timmins, The Independent, February 20, 1991.
"200 Kuwaitis Executed by Iraq Since War Began, Official Says," Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, February 15, 1991.
"As Kuwaitis Flee, Iraqi Troops Seize the Men; Refugee Women Fear Husbands Will Be Forced Into Baghdad's Army," Kim Murphy, The Washington Post, September 18, 1990.
"Something Evil Has Visited Kuwait City," Robert Fisk, The Independent, February 28, 1990.
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Rape
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"A testimony to brutality written in blood; Robert Fisk visits the cells of Iraq's secret police in Dihok and is pessimistic over the prospects for preventing new horrors," Robert Fisk, The Independent, May 27, 1991.
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Individual torture/cruel and inhuman punishment
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"Long arm of Iraq reaches dissidents in Jordan," Charles Richards, The Independent, December 10, 1992.
"Iraqi nuclear expert killed 'as defector,'" Wafa Amr, The Guardian, December 9, 1992.
"Iraq said to execute officers; war heroes allegedly opposed Saddam," Ed Blanche, The Washington Post, October 4, 1992.
"The billion-dollar monster who is shoring up Saddam; Barzan Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother and the man who put the evil into Iraq's intelligence service, is allowed to operate a worldwide sanctions-busting network from Switzerland," Julie Flint, The Observer, July 26, 1992.
"135 Iraqis purged, the Pentagon says," Michael R. Gordon, The New York Times, Jully 7, 1992.
"U.S. to Help Retrieve Data on Iraqi Torture of Kurds," Patrick E. Tyler, The New York Times, May 17, 1992.
"The man who holds Iraq's nuclear secrets; Top physicist tortured after refusing to build the bomb for Saddam tells his story from exile in Iran," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, May 17, 1992.
"State Terror and the Degradation of Politics in Iraq," Isam al-Khafaji, Middle East Report, May/June 1992.
"President Saddam Initiates Drive on Shi'ite Holy Cities," Liz Thurgood, The Guardian, July 23, 1991.
"Inside Saddam's torture chamber: A report that will shock and astound the civilised world," Alastair McQueen and Ramsay Smith (four-part series), Daily Mirror(London), July 1-4, 1991.
"Kidnapped Cleric Paraded on TV," Julie Flint, The Observer, March 24, 1991.
"Uproar after Kidnapping of Shi'ite Leader," David Hirst, The Guardian, March 22, 1991.
"Rebels 'Hanged from Tank Barrels' by Saddam's Men," Sharif Imam-Jomeh and Nora Boustany, The Guardian, March 14, 1991.
"Iraq's grand executioner; Farzad Bazoft was only one of several thousand show trial victims under Saddam Hussein," Robert Fisk, The Independent, March 29, 1990.
"Execution in Iraq: Drawing back the veil on a republic of fear; Harvey Morris, Middle East Editor, examines the 11 years of suffering that have marked the dictatorship of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein," Harvey Morris, The Independent, March 16, 1990.
"Iraq Sentences Journalist to Die on Spy Charge; Mideast: The Reporter, an Iranian Exile, Was Investigating a Blast in a Weapons Complex for a British Paper," Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, March 11, 1990.
"Something Evil Has Visited Kuwait City," Robert Fisk, The Independent, February 28, 1990.
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Environmental destruction
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"Murder in the Marshes," Shyam Bhatia, The Observer, February 28, 1993.
"Iraqi drainage scheme cripples Marsh Arabs," Robert Fisk, The Independent, February 27, 1993.
"From Iraq's slough of despond," Emma Nicholson, The Wall Street Journal, October 9, 1992.
"Iraqis Torch Scores of Oil Facilities in Kuwait; Gulf War: At Least 150 of the Emirate's Wells Are Set Ablaze. Allies Continue to Hammer Enemy Forces," J. Michael Kennedy and Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1991.
"Kuwait Oil Facilities Set Afire by Gulf War: The Thick Black Smoke Hampers Allied Air Operations. It May Be Part of Baghdad's Defensive Strategy," J. Michael Kennedy and Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times, January 22, 1991.
"U.N. Inspectors in Iraq Get Chemical Surprise," Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor, June 23, 1992.
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Destruction of religious shrines
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"Saddam tightens his grip on Iraq's Shias," Charles Richards, The Independent, January 27, 1993.
"Reflection on the Holy Cities," Michael Wood, Dialogue (newsletter of the Public Affairs Committee for Shia Muslims, London), February 1992.
"Islamic treasure stolen; Najaf's Shia shrine has lost priceless jewels and ancient manuscripts," Patrick Cockburn, The Independent, January 10, 1992.
"By the Ruins of Babylon," Michael Wood, The Times, August 17, 1991.
"President Saddam Initiates Drive on Shi'ite Holy Cities," Liz Thurgood, The Guardian, July 23, 1991.
"Iraqi Holy Cities Become Armed Camps; Tapestry of Defeat Hangs Over Shiites Since Their Revolt Failed," Caryle Murphy, The Washington Post, June 30, 1991.
"Iraqi Shiites Chafe Under Rule Of Saddam's Elite Military Corps," Kathleen Evans, The Christian Science Monitor, June 5, 1991.
"Blood and Hatred Stain Shrines at Holy Places," Ed Vulliamy, The Guardian, May 1, 1991.
"Southern Iraq Lies Devastated; Defeated Shiites Endure in Conditions as Grim as That of Kurds," William Drozdiak, The Washington Post, April 30, 1991.
"Concrete Covers Shame of Shias' Holy Sites," Adam Kelliher, The Times, April 29, 1991.
"Iraqi Refugees Tell U.S. Soldiers Of Brutal Repression of Rebellion," The New York Times, March 28, 1991.
"Uproar after Kidnapping of Shi'ite Leader," David Hirst, The Guardian, March 22, 1991.
"Bodies Litter Streets of an Iraqi Holy City Torn by Revolt," The New York Times, March 22, 1991.
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General conditions
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"Southern Iraqis feel fear, betrayal; residents still resent West's failure to aid their rebellion," Trevor Rowe, The Washington Post, November 21, 1992.
"West aims to turn army against Saddam," Julie Flint, The Observer, August 23, 1992.
"Saddam: Rehabilitation by willpower," Caryle Murphy, The Washington Post, July 28, 1992.
"Saddam's best ally; An eyewitness report on how the U.S.-backed sanctions are creating a powerjul profitering elite--and buoying Saddam's war-torn dictatorship," leslie and Andrew Cockburn, Vanity Fair, August 1992.
"No exit: Saddam's popularity reacches rock bottom as Iraq's woes grow; In Baghdad, jokes are heard about ruler's manhood; some ask one more bomb; Still, no one to oust him," Tony Horwitz, The Wall Street Journal, July 25, 1991.
"What young Iraqis don't dare say to each othher; Iraq's apolitical generation," Andrea W. Lorenz, The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August/September 1991.
"The Big Brother: Iraq Under Saddam Hussein," Elaine Sciolino, The New York Times Magazine, February 3, 1985.
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