Sunday, September 9, 2012

Blog 3 "Iraq's exiled president sentenced to death"


Kaleesha Knox
“Iraq’s exiled president sentenced to death as violence grows”
September 09, 2012

                After the Sunni Vice President of Iraq was found guilty of committing terrorism acts after hiring death squads to kill Shiites Muslims, a lawyer, and a government authority figure, he was exiled and sentenced to death. Tariq al-Hashemi decided to flee the country to go to Turkey after being accused of the crimes back in December of 2011 when he planned the murder of the lawyer and government official after they refused to help him and his allies in organizing terror cases. Similarly, Hashemi’s son in law, Ah ed Qhatan was sentenced to death by hanging. Though Hashemi denies all charges, his former bodyguards testified during the beginning of the trial process stating that they were “ordered and then paid to launch the attacks” which consisted of murders, rapes, and torture. In addition, al-Hashemi is thought to be associated with 150 bombings and assassinations from 2005 to 2011. Consequently, after the exiled Vice President was sentenced to death, more than 100 people, primarily Shiite Muslims, were killed by car bombs and is noted as one of the most bloodiest incidents in Iraq just this year alone. Interestingly, before the verdict was even announced, bombs and shootings beforehand killed another 58 people! The main local hospital was so overcrowded with injured citizens that they began asking residents to donate blood.

Humans tend to paint the town dark red with all the scattered bloodshed we see when a man’s dead. While bullets are released, people become deceased, faces are erased. Not only does this new story affect the people of Iraq, but it also affects Turkish and American citizens. War is a very serious global issue because the increasing advancements of globalization makes it more accessible to get dangerous weapons and arsons. War increases the prejudices we have against other nations, causes a weakening in natural resources, and can destroy the land of a country. As a leader of a nation, al-Hashemi was expected to perform at the highest level possible to protect the people of Iraq. Instead, he was the mastermind behind many of the horrid deeds. The story demonstrates a global issue because it shows how the corruption of a single person can negatively effect an entire culture or country on a bigger scale.  As a leader of the people he not only let down the people of his country, but let down the other leaders in the world that strive so hard to be positive role models for their citizens.


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