Hannah Newport
So, they are going to hang him. Can’t say I’ll miss the fellow. I didn’t know him personally, but from what I can gather from the media, some sources more trustworthy than others, he wasn’t the kindest chap since the Easter bunny. 
But as much as I dislike Saddam Hussein, I dislike the hypocrisy of his death sentence even more so. After all, the death he was so apt at condemning upon his Iraqi people, would not have been possible without our good western generosity. Shouldn’t we feel proud!
The US was more than happy with its cushy little business arrangements with Iraq until it didn’t suit them any more. A report entitled “United States Chemical and Biological Warfare-related Dual-use exports to Iraq and their possible impact on the Health Consequences (sic) of the Persian Gulf War” was produced for congress in 1994. It detailed US government-approved shipments of biological agents sent by American companies to Iraq between 1985 and 1991, when Kuwait was “liberated”.
The chemicals detailed in the report as having been exported included Bacillus anthracis, which produces anthrax; Clostridium botulinum; Histoplasma capsulatum; Brucella melitensis; Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. The same report stated that the US provided Saddam with “dual use” licensed materials which assisted in the development of chemical, biological and missile-system programmes, including chemical warfare agent production facility plant and technical drawings of pesticide production facility plans.
But it would be plain rude to assume that the US was the only country clever enough to make the most of such an economic gold mine. Back in 1988, Britain was kind enough to export to Baghdad ’£200,000 worth of thiodiglycol, one of two components of mustard gas, and another ’£50,000 worth of the same vile substance the following year.
They also sent thionyl chloride to Iraq in 1988 at a price of only ’£26,000. Of course these could be used to make ballpoint ink and fabric dyes. But this was the same country - Britain - that would, eight years later, prohibit the sale of diphtheria vaccine to Iraqi children on the grounds that it could be used for - you guessed it - “weapons of mass destruction”.
How fitting then that these countries would be the first to condemn the man they once shook hands with. (Anyone else remember that cosy moment between Saddam and Donald Rumsfeld? Ah, memories…) And how lovely that now we’ve killed off the main man, we can ignore the other mass murderers who are in power in the new western-supported Iraqi government. A good chance for some reminiscing among old friends, I imagine. Don’t worry folks, we’re not picky who we do business with- war is good for the economy!
“A great day for Iraq”, was what UK Prime Minister Blair said when Saddam was sentenced to hang. Is that what he was saying when Britain was sending him chemicals of death? God only knows what Bush was saying. (Probably something like, “Chemicals we export are of a high quality, and so are the ones we send to other countries”.)
However it is that both governments manage to sleep at night (with a hefty dose of tranquilliser I imagine), it does not excuse the carnage left behind in Iraq. It does not justify the destroyed homes, the torn families and the children left without parents. It does not console the parents left without children. But what the hell, chemicals make our lives better.
Reference:
Robert Fisk: This was a guilty verdict on America as well, in the Independent, 6 Nov o6
LEARN MORE
Hanging Saddam will plunge the ME into bloody chaos — on Al Jazeera, 20 Nov 2006
Iraq’s trial of Saddam assailed — International Herald Tribune, 20 Nov 2006
Saddam trial ‘flawed and unsound’ — BBC, 20 Nov 2006