Under normal circumstances, the announcement that the Iraqi government has put together a package of $400 million to compensate Americans who suffered injury as a result of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait 20 years ago would be thought just and be welcomed. After all, hundreds of Americans were held as human shields by Saddam during the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War. Many claim to have been tortured and subjected to psychological trauma. Given events of the past 20 years, however, it is easy to understand the Iraqi people's anger in reaction to the news. Iraqi casualty figures from the US invasion and occupation are still in dispute, but taking into account the various published numbers, it seems safe to say that well over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed or injured either as a direct result of or a consequence of the illegal US invasion and occupation. The Iraqi government's rationale for paying the claims is that the victims brought suit in US courts and won their cases. If the judgements are not paid, US law allows for freezing Iraqi assets in the US. So, the $400 million is really a move to stave off much more serious potentialities in the future. But if US citizens can receive compensation for the actions of a government that not only no longer exists but was destroyed by the US itself, leaving immeasurable misery in its wake, why can't those Iraqis unjustly affected by US actions sue for compensation from the US government? How many lives have been all but destroyed by mistakes made on the part of the invaders? Stories abound of small business vehicles inadvertently destroyed by the US, profound trauma prompted by US soldiers bursting into the wrong house and other, more deadly, crimes. No one invited the US to Iraq. If Iraq should pay for the actions of a past dictator, then the US should also be forced to pay for the profound trauma it has inflicted on Iraqis. __
