September 16, 2008

Washington, DC – The House of Representatives last night approved legislation, H.R. 5167, by voice vote that protects the right of Americans tortured or held hostage by Saddam Hussein to obtain compensation from Iraqi assets of the former dictator and his cabal frozen in U.S. banks.

“Let’s be clear, Americans tortured by Saddam Hussein deserve compensation just the same as other victims of torture,” said Rep. Darrell Issa.

Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered all American citizens in Iraqi-occupied territory to be taken hostage and used as pawns to deter the U.S. from taking military action to liberate Kuwait.  Many of those Americans were rounded up and forcibly relocated to strategic sites, where they were detained as "human shields" and subjected to cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment.  Others went into hiding or took refuge at diplomatic properties.  All of the hostages lived each day in fear for their lives; many witnessed unimaginable atrocities; others were beaten, raped, tortured or subjected to mock executions.   Additionally, seventeen American POW's were taken and, in clear contravention of the Geneva Convention, brutally tortured. 

While efforts to reach a negotiated settlement have taken place among U.S. officials, Iraqi officials, and American victims of torture, no agreement has been finalized.  On July 30, 2008, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously adopted the Issa amendment to H.R. 5167. 

The Issa amendment plan is designed to ensure that other foreign nationals are not compensated by the Government of Iraq while Americans with similar claims are left behind.

“This plan recognizes the difficulty of the rebuilding process in Iraq but also ensures we won’t have a situation in Iraq like we have had for World War II POWs who were brutalized by Japanese captors.  The claims of these World War II vets have been wrongly subjugated to claims of individuals and companies from other countries and have still not been paid,” said Issa.  

 

Rep. Issa’s assistance on the Victims of Torture bill was sought after by Cliff Acree, an Oceanside resident and retired Navy aviator who was captured and tortured by Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1991. 

 

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