Saddam's Diplomatic Legacy

Iraq today is not only dealing with Saddam Hussein's legacy internally, it's being held responsible for his international crimes, as well:

"Iraq has quietly agreed to pay $400 million in claims to American citizens who say they were tortured or traumatized by Saddam Hussein’s regime after his 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

"The controversial settlement ends years of legal battles and could help Iraq emerge from United Nations sanctions put in place two decades ago – a step Iraqi leaders see as a prerequisite to becoming fully sovereign...

"Settling the claims, which were brought by American citizens, has been seen as a key requirement for Washington to be willing to push for an end to the UN sanctions...

"Known as 'Chapter 7' sanctions after the part of the UN charter that deals with international threats to peace, they were imposed against Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait and never fully lifted.

"As part of the Status of Forces Agreement between Iraq and the United States, which provides the legal basis for the presence of American troops here, the US committed itself to helping Iraq emerge from Chapter 7."

Iraq is also continuing to pay compensation to Kuwait, which the latter has refused to forgive.