[thechat] Saddam and Gomorrah?

[Erika Meyer]

I'm just a stupid American.

It is not clear to me how Saddam's government operated, and how many 
thousands were tortured and killed under him.  Who did he torture and 
kill?  How?  I mean, are we talking about Nazi-style gestapo, are we 
talking about Stalinist-style purges, are we talking about 
Soviet-style gulags, are we talking about concentration camps for 
political prisoners, are we talking about Central American-style 
death squads, are we talking about Pol Pot-style killing fields... 
what, exactly are we talking about?

Facts, dates, from someone who knows?  I'm just curious.  I usually 
only hear this discussed in very general and vague terms, and then I 
hear about a chemical attack against the Kurds and one (?) against 
Iranians... but more facts and details would be so educational for me.

Apologies for my ignorance.

Erika


>From: "Madhu Menon"
>
>>  I don't see why Muslims should *support* him. He's (ahem, sorry, WAS) a
>>  cruel dictator who tortured and killed many thousands of people. There is
>>  practically NOTHING to like about him. He's hardly a candidate for 
>>sainthood.
>
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