Saddam Hussein's 1988 attack underscored the lengths to which he would go to destroy opponents The following are excerpts from the book ''A Modern History of the Kurds'' by David McDowall (reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Press, New York, N.Y.). The excerpts cover the 1988 gassing and purge of Iraqi Kurds, who were aiding Iranian forces pushing into Iraq. The architect of the attacks was Ali Hassan al Majid, a cousin of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. It is believed Majid might be behind the suicide attack that killed four U.S. soldiers in Iraq a week ago and the recent...