Chemical Cousins

As usual, I suppose we should not be surprised by The New York Times’ reporting in the sentencing of Saddam Hussein’s cousin, “Chemical” Ali Hassan al-Majid, for the infamous gassing of the Kurds in Northern Iraq almost twenty years ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/world/middleeast/25verdict.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

First off, it seemed to me that this is the trial that would have truly illustrated just what a cruel and unusual dictator Hussein was and thus would have been more fitting that he share in his cousin’s sentence. It should be noted, however, that “Chemical Ali” was not accused of procuring said chemicals, but merely utilizing them to their most deadly potential. It seems that the American occupiers did not want to get too deep into the origins of this atrocity, because they knew pretty darn well where the paper trail led. As much as the regrettable powers that be would like to sweep the past under the proverbial Arab carpet, it must be noted that it was none other than the United States of America who had been providing one Saddam Hussein with the necessary weapons (conventional and otherwise) to defeat our nemesis, Iran. Unfortunately for the Kurds, they just happened to be (as they most always are) in a particularly vulnerable position when Saddam could inflict maximal damage upon them. This is what I allude to when yet again being critical of The Times for failing to mention this very interesting and important bit of information. Now keeping in mind what I mentioned about the US providing Iraq weapons to fight Iran; is that not the exact rationale the chickenhawks are now crowing about as a legitimate reason for US bombing Iran?! How Iranic…