Iraqis outraged at payout for US victims of Saddam

[sabra]

Source: the national

BAGHDAD // Iraqis have reacted with disbelief and anger after their country agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to American victims of Saddam Hussein.

The package, worth $400 million (Dh1.5 billion), will settle outstanding claims by US citizens who were caught up in the Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait two decades ago. Hundreds of Americans were held as human shields by the former leader during the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War, with many saying they were tortured and subjected to psychological trauma. They have since sued the Iraqi government for financial damages.

Ordinary Iraqis were shocked by the news their government would make the payout, at a time when thousands of people are struggling with crippling poverty and the disastrous humanitarian fallout from the US-led invasion.

Umm Samer, a mother of one from New Baghdad, a suburb of the city, burst into tears when she heard about the deal. Her 14-year-old son lost a leg when a US military vehicle accidentally ran over him five years ago.

The family failed to get financial compensation from the US authorities, or aid from the Iraqi government, to help meet medical bills.

“It’s impossible to imagine that our government will pay the Americans when our own people are still suffering from what the Americans have done here,” she said. “For years I’ve watched my son in his pain; he still has health and psychological problems from having his leg amputated, but we’ve had no help from anyone.”

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100915/FOREIGN/709149830/1002/NEWS

[Nihil]

1. "Why do they hate us?"

"Shut up! Pay up! Bend over!"

[irislake]

2. Encroyable!