Revisiting Saddam Hussein’s trial following the Chilcot Inquiry

With the findings of the Chilcot Inquiry recently being released, it is interesting to revisit Saddam Hussein’s own words during his trial in regards to the occupation of Iraq and the search for weapons of mass destruction. In the video below (starting at the time mark of 5:18), the former dictator discusses how America and its allies lied about Iraq having chemical weapons and Iraq’s links to terrorism.

Testifying in front of the world, he was arrogant and defiant to the very end even though he was charged with premeditated murder, genocide, imprisonment and the deprivation of physical movement, forced deportation, and torture. It is evident that he used chemical weapons several times in the 1980’s, however, the US and UK failed to provide evidence of the existence of WMDs prior to the invasion. The Chilcot Inquiry states that “the judgements about the severity of the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction – WMD – were presented with a certainty that was not justified.” His first appearance in court was July 1, 2004 and he was executed on December 30, 2006.

Image courtesy of AP