Murder
Combining all Saddam’s atrocities together still doesn’t add up to the number of people estimated dead from UN sanctions, but even ignoring this, the US and UK governments helped him perpetrate most of them.

• Iranian war: one million dead – Saddam was supported by the US throughout.
• Kurdish suppression: 180,000 dead.
• Gassing of Kurds in Halabja: 5,000 dead – immediately after, the US administration authorised a $400 million emergency loan, then bombed two Iranian oil rigs and a frigate for him.
• Aid continued to be given to Saddam, ignoring his actions in favour of helping him win against Iran.
• Marsh Arab suppression: 30-60 thousand dead, US/UK imposed a no fly zone following intense international pressure, massacre continued on the ground.
• Crushing of Shia rising in 1991: 100,000 dead – permitted by the US who preferred Saddam to a popular rebellion.
• Estimated dead from UN sanctions: 1.6 million. Sanctions failed to curb military spending, while guaranteeing a lack of food and basic medical supplies to Iraqis.

Money
Iraqi oil will bring in $10-15 billion this year, but 25% of all revenue will help pay off a $150 billion dollar ‘debt’ to the US based on Saddam’s actions in the past, while privatisation – decided without asking Iraqis – means most state revenue sources will be sold to big corporations and run for shareholders, not the Iraqi people.

So little money has been spent on reconstruction so far that electricity and water production levels are still far below what Saddam managed under UN sanctions.

The total worth of the oil in Iraq is over $10.5 trillion, with gas being worth a further $1.7 trillion. To put this into perspective, the Catholic church’s total assets in 2003 – everything from font to spire right across the globe – are valued at just over $1 trillion.

Memories
Paul Bremer, ex-dictator of Iraq, was hauled away from Viet…  (oops) Iraq in an armoured helicopter, as yet another three-hour power outage darkened the homes of Baghdad.