Iraq’s Shiites Describe Reign of Fear

Listening to the coverage of the war from the BBC World Service continues to remind me of the ongoing timidity of the U.S. media in giving us a larger and historical perspective on U.S. involvement in the Persian Gulf. Just a little while ago, the BBC was discussing the role of the Shi’ite opposition to Saddam Hussein, and in that discussion they mentioned how the U.S. abandonment of the Shi’ites in 1991 leaves them nervous about looking to the U.S. for support again.r
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A google search on the topic brings up this mention from a Washington Post piece from January: r
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“Shiites rose up against the government in 1991. They were encouraged by Iraq’s swift defeat in Kuwait and the call of President George Bush to rebel. But the United States, with jets, helicopters and troops within striking distance, declined to support the revolt. Hussein’s loyal military units assaulted Shiite towns and villages, hunted rebels down and crushed the revolt.”r
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Read the piece in the Washington Post, Iraq’s Shiites Describe Reign of Fear.r
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