United States of America.
Once Al-Anfal began, Washington spearheaded national and international efforts to deny Iraqi responsibility. Supporting its claims with falsified evidence, the United States accused Iran of using chemical weapons in Halabja. Although some individuals in Washington fought for recognition and condemnation of Al-Anfal and Halabja, opposition from the House, Senate, and the President—all of whom hoped to appease Saddam—kept the secret from leaking out. Responding to pressure from the United States, the UN instead quickly and thoroughly investigated Iran’s humanitarian rights violations during the war while responses to requests for investigations in Iraq were delayed and negligent. Furthermore, rather than pressuring Iraq to change its behavior, the UN Security Council passed a slew of resolutions condemning both Iraq and Iran for chemical weapons use without any mention of Al-Anfal. The U.S.’s perceived strategic interests against Iran ruled out the possibility of humanitarian intervention in Iraq. Prioritizing geopolitical concerns over human ones, the U.S. therefore chose not to intervene in a genocide it had helped to create.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds were murdered and the Genocide went on for much longer than it should have.
Great Britain
The Reagan administration’s support was political and diplomatic as well as material. In March 1986, as evidence of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons became overwhelming, the US and Britain used their veto to block a motion in the UN Security Council condemning Iraq. Moreover, the US was the only country to vote against a non-binding UN Security Council statement on the same issue. Increasingly, US agencies responded allegations of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons with a conscious campaign of deception and disinformation, claiming that the Iranian military was also using poison gas.
Iraq continued using poison gas against the Kurds, and thousand more of the Kurds died.
Turkey
Turkey wanted to stop the Genocide because hundreds of thousands of Kurds fled to Turkey. Turkey was becoming overpopulated, and Turkey was having trouble compensating for the onslaught of people. They were having trouble giving the Kurds basic human rights.
Kurds were forced to stop fleeing in to Turkey. And as a result, many more of the Kurds died.
Once Al-Anfal began, Washington spearheaded national and international efforts to deny Iraqi responsibility. Supporting its claims with falsified evidence, the United States accused Iran of using chemical weapons in Halabja. Although some individuals in Washington fought for recognition and condemnation of Al-Anfal and Halabja, opposition from the House, Senate, and the President—all of whom hoped to appease Saddam—kept the secret from leaking out. Responding to pressure from the United States, the UN instead quickly and thoroughly investigated Iran’s humanitarian rights violations during the war while responses to requests for investigations in Iraq were delayed and negligent. Furthermore, rather than pressuring Iraq to change its behavior, the UN Security Council passed a slew of resolutions condemning both Iraq and Iran for chemical weapons use without any mention of Al-Anfal. The U.S.’s perceived strategic interests against Iran ruled out the possibility of humanitarian intervention in Iraq. Prioritizing geopolitical concerns over human ones, the U.S. therefore chose not to intervene in a genocide it had helped to create.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds were murdered and the Genocide went on for much longer than it should have.
Great Britain
The Reagan administration’s support was political and diplomatic as well as material. In March 1986, as evidence of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons became overwhelming, the US and Britain used their veto to block a motion in the UN Security Council condemning Iraq. Moreover, the US was the only country to vote against a non-binding UN Security Council statement on the same issue. Increasingly, US agencies responded allegations of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons with a conscious campaign of deception and disinformation, claiming that the Iranian military was also using poison gas.
Iraq continued using poison gas against the Kurds, and thousand more of the Kurds died.
Turkey
Turkey wanted to stop the Genocide because hundreds of thousands of Kurds fled to Turkey. Turkey was becoming overpopulated, and Turkey was having trouble compensating for the onslaught of people. They were having trouble giving the Kurds basic human rights.
Kurds were forced to stop fleeing in to Turkey. And as a result, many more of the Kurds died.