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Iraq
Talbani Orders Release of Saddam's half brother for Treatment
2005-11-01
Iraqi President Jalal Talbani ordered the release of Saddam Hussein’s half brother, Barzan al Tikriti from prison to receive treatment for his cancer. The request came in response to a letter published exclusively by Asharq al Awsat in which Tkriti appealed to world leaders to free him.

In a statement broadcast in Baghdad , Talbani said,” The Iraqi President Jalal Talbani, after examining the plea by Iraqi citizen Mr. Barzan al Tkriti, expresses his sympathy to his request, in the name of human rights which call for everyone to receive medical treatment when needed and the historic relations that bind our families together and in respect of the personal friendship between us that existed in the past. The President urges the Prime Minister [Ibrahim al Jaafari] to use all his powers to release Bazan al Tikriti from prison and allow him hospital treatment for his cancer.”
I certainly hope it's terminal.
Posted by:Fred

#7  "What I didn't know until today is that it was Barzani all along..."
Posted by: mojo   2005-11-01 16:56  

#6  Also, by extending this offer to al Tikriti, Talbani places himself squarely in the role of gracious Muslim ruler - a cultural factor that should not be underestimated. This gesture will resonate well with a lot of ordinary Iraqis.
Posted by: lotp   2005-11-01 09:59  

#5  I'm not sure the prison is up to medical standards.

But there is probably a different reason for Talbani's stance on this and on attacking Syria: he wants to avoid a sectarian/ethnic bloodbath of Kurds vs. Sunnis vs. Shia. If things stay relatively stable, the Kurds will have retaken Mosul, the oilfields in the north etc. But if civil war breaks out in a serious way, it all goes down the drain for his people as well as for the whole country.

Just my guess, anyway.
Posted by: lotp   2005-11-01 09:57  

#4  Why can he not be given the treatment in prison?
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-11-01 03:53  

#3  I bet the Kurds have a nice new hospital wing and would be delighted to treat Sammy's kin.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-11-01 01:24  

#2  metastasis metastasize
Posted by: Red Dog   2005-11-01 01:04  

#1  Tikriti murder cells always metastasis. It's a genetic thingy.
Posted by: Red Dog   2005-11-01 00:53  

00:01