15 September 2003
Halabja Will Never Happen Again, Says Powell
Attends dedication of memorial and museum to Kurdish victims
Secretary of State Colin Powell visited a mass grave site for victims of a 1988 chemical weapons attack by Saddam Hussein's regime against Kurdish villagers during his visit to Iraq.
"[W]hat happened here in 1988 is never going to happen again," said Powell, attending a September 15 memorial dedication at the grave site with Kurdish and local leaders, as well as Coalition Provisional Authority head Paul Bremer.
Powell said the mastermind of the attack -- Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali -- was now in jail, where he will stay "until an Iraqi court decides his fate." Saddam Hussein, he said, is "running and hiding" from justice "until we catch him or until he dies."
"Beyond that, the system that spawned them, a system of coups and plots and assassins is smashed and will never return," he said.
The secretary told his audience that the construction of a memorial and a museum on the attacks "made sure that you will never forget but above all, the world will never forget." "I will always remember Halabja," said Powell.
Following is a transcript of Powell's remarks at the Halabja Mass Grave Site:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Kuwait City, Kuwait)
September 15, 2003
Remarks at Halabja Mass Grave Site Ceremony
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
Ceremony included Mr. Masud Barzani, Mr. Jalal Talabani,
Mr. Barham Salih and Ambassador L. Paul Bremer
September 15, 2003
Halabja, Iraq
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you so much, Mr. Barzani, for your words and for that kind introduction. It's a great honor for me to be here today and to see the assembled citizens of this town that is now marked in history forever, and to see this beautiful monument.
This is a very special place and I should say something special to you. What can I say to you? I cannot tell you that choking mothers died holding their choking babies to their chests. You know that. I cannot tell you that Saddam Hussein was a murderous tyrant. You know that. I cannot tell you that the world should have acted sooner. You know that. I cannot tell you of the suffering of those who were poisoned but nevertheless lived. You know that.
What I can tell you is that what happened here in 1988 is never going to happen again. Chemical Ali is in jail. He will stay in jail until an Iraqi court decides his fate. Saddam is running and hiding. He is going to keep running and keep hiding until we catch him or until he dies. Beyond that, the system that spawned them, a system of coups and plots and assassins is smashed and will never return.
Right now, Iraqis of many faiths, many heritages, run the day-to-day affairs of Iraq. Fairly soon, you will vote on a new permanent constitution and then, on a new government. That new government will answer to the people of Iraq, will be accountable to you for its actions.
If some future tyrant should try to turn the armed forces against the Iraqi people, he will find officers and men who have sworn their loyalty not to him, but to the new constitution.
The 5000 men and women and children murdered in Halabja live in the memory of those who knew them. And those who knew them constructed a museum so that others might always remember them.
By your actions here at this spot and by the construction of this museum, you have made sure that you will never forget but above all, the world will never forget. And I will always remember Halabja.
Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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