Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq

Source: BBC

The trial has opened in Baghdad of 15 aides of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for the suppression of a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.

It is the third trial held by the Iraq High Tribunal. Among those in the dock is Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali".

...

US President George Bush Senior's decision not to press on to Baghdad after defeating Saddam Hussein's forces in Kuwait long remained contentious among Shia who believed they had a green light to stage an uprising.

The fact that Saddam Hussein's forces were able to use helicopters as gunships against those who took part also caused concern.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6956080.stm

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The last two paragraphs refer to the uprisings followed the Kuwait invasion of the Western armies and the defeat of Saddam.
BBC titles it "Controversies revived" hinting at possible tensions during the trial.

"Galvanised by a message by US President George Bush to "take matters into their own hands", the Shia strongholds of Najaf and Karbala rose in revolt in an attempt to topple Saddam Hussein.

Soon, thousands of rebel troops seized control of the city of Basra and 14 of Iraq's provinces, and advanced to within 60 miles of Baghdad.

But despite these early successes, the rebellion was swiftly crushed by government forces. Mass reprisals followed in which tens of thousands of people are believed to have died.

Many Shia blame President Bush for the uprising's failure, as the US came to a ceasefire agreement that allowed forces loyal to Saddam to crush the rebellion by using helicopter gunships. "

Bush the father must be the first one who must be put on trial for what happened."

snip

According to an article on Reuters, the trial revives debate over former U.S. President George Bush’s decision not to invade Iraq after forcing Iraqi soldiers out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

snip

Galvanised by a message by the former U.S. President to
"take matters into their own hands, to force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside", the Shia strongholds of Najaf and Karbala rose in revolt in March 1991, just days after the February 28 ceasefire ended the Gulf War,


http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=29156

al Sadr the father was in that parade on Baghdad. So were al Sadr's brothers. All gunned down or tortured to death.

As I recall, the Iraqi military ( Saddam ) requested and was given permission to use low flying helicopters to aid in the evacuation of troops from the 19th province of Iraq.

General 'stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. regretted giving that permission but what was worse is when our piltos reported what those helicopters were doing.

The chain of command broke down for that airforce pilot that reported what he saw on the highway.

Just a few tracers across the bow of a helo would have been all that was needed imo.
maybe induce engine problems certainly would have been the answer.

water under the bridge.



Chemical Ali is on trial for killing al Sadr the father and abusing the majority population of Iraq.


The kinder,gentler nation should have smoked a few more eggbeaters before calling it a victory for the Arab nations.

....of course Poppy encouraged rebellion and then walked away....for the sake of oil and profits, how else was he to get those Iraqis to cooperate and kill each other on the cheap?....that's a twofer....

....maybe the Iraqi Tribunal will try Poppy in abstentia....