Iraqi lawmakers approve $400M payment to Americans

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: AP/Houston Chronicle

Iraqi lawmakers approved a controversial $400 million settlement Saturday for Americans who claim they were abused by Saddam Hussein's regime during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The settlement is part of a deal reached between Baghdad and Washington last year to end years of legal battles by U.S. citizens who claim they were tortured or traumatized, including hundreds held as human shields.

Many Iraqis consider themselves victims of both Saddam's regime and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and wonder why they should pay money for wrongs committed by the ousted dictator.

Lawmakers approved the settlement by a majority after listening to the foreign and finance ministers as well as the head of the central bank describe why it was necessary, said Abbas al-Bayati of the State of Law political bloc.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7544704.html

[leveymg]

1. I figure we owe them about 999 times that much.

[Auntie Bush]

3. Now can all the people we tortured sue the US government?

[leveymg]

4. They have to incorporate first. Iraq, a Delaware corporation.

Since the most recent SCOTUS abomination, this may be literally true.

[BobbyBoring]

2. OH BROTHER!!!!

I see a large can of worms opening here!