[Applause] we're in Iraq in 1979 the newly appointed president has called his fellow party members to a meeting in a local theater Hall in Baghdad his name is Saddam Hussein he's only been president for a little under a week but Iraq is his and he wants everyone to know it's July and the temperature outside is pushing 40° C the hall is hot blisteringly hot as Saddam takes the stage he takes his time shuffles a few papers looks at his notes shortly before their newly appointed president arrived one of his men appeared on stage a terrible
plot against the president and against Iraq has been uncovered he informed the crowd a group of high-ranking party members has conspired to remove Saddam Hussein from power and then he revealed all the guilty parties are in this room right now and now the crowd sits Frozen in Silence the president is in total control then Saddam calls a man to the stage and a tall slender middle-aged man starts walking down the aisle his name is mhi ADC Hussein he's part of the Revolutionary command Council he's a powerful man but just a short while ago he had
opposed Sadam in a meeting it was a mistake he walks up onto the stage and stands behind a microphone and then slowly he begins confessing confessing to crimes of wanting to overthrow Saddam husin in the meantime Saddam takes a seat by a long table full of microphones and lights a thick Cuban cigar I was the one behind the plot against the new president the man says it was me who tried getting others to join in but it's a lie nothing of what he admits on stage is true what's really happened is that he's been thoroughly
tortured and told that if he doesn't go up on that stage and say that he planned the plot against Saddam the torturers will rape his wife and daughter right in front of him he has no choice but to obey and so he does to save his family muhi lies about his own and his fellow party members involvement in the plot to overthrow saddam's new regime once he's finished Saddam takes the floor again Saddam is in no rush he lights his cigar and then he asks out into the the room what means should be used against
these traitors you know the answer he says after a pause there is no other way than the sword the terrified party members in the theater Hall begin to clap desperately what else could they do Saddam then gives an instruction to those assembled in the hall when I have read out your name you shall stand up recite the party's slogan and leave the room and so he begins reading out names one by one they must rise from their seats say the slogan and then they are LED out of the room they haven't been told where they're
going or what's waiting for them on the other side of the door but they probably have an idea most of the people though reluctantly do as they're told one man however is clearly confused at his name being called me I haven't done anything he shouts as he stands up Sadam doesn't even bother to look at him he just cooly repeats when I have read out your name you shall stand up recite the party's slogan and leave the room and then nothing the man just lowers his head and shuffles out of the room Saddam continues until
he has called out 68 names he smiles and thanks those remaining in the hall for their loyalty and then everyone stands up and once again begins a desperate Standing Ovation relief some even begin to cry up on the stage even Saddam himself sheds a tear outside the hall all the people whose name Saddam has called out are gathered in trucks and driven to prison in the following days 68 trials are held 22 men including five members of the Revolutionary command Council are sentenced to death Saddam has appointed a number of executioners to complete the task
of carrying out the executions they're all members of the bath party his party and none of them are executioners they are then gathered in the building where the plotters allegedly should have laid their plans to overthrow saddam's new regime and then The Condemned are dragged out into the adjoining yard where they are forced to their knees and blindfolded each of the executioners is then handed a weapon and assigned a victim and while they prepare to murder their former party comrades they can hear the sound of a large crowd Gathering outside the building Saddam wants to
make sure that everyone knows what will happen to people who disobey but most importantly he wants to show his accompli willing or not so Saddam has made sure that there's a demonstration at the same time as the executions and it's a big one thousands of Iraqis gather with signs and flags shouting praises to their new president and condemning the prisoners and then one by one saddam's former friends and fellow party members are shot some executioners are so nervous and scared that they miss and need to shoot their victims several times it's gruesome but Saddam is
very satisfied an excellent start to his presidential career he thinks to himself and so the first official order of the newly appointed president of Iraq has been carried out what could be the next 5 months ago Saddam Hussein started this cruel war against Kuwait tonight the battle has been joined
