Reply #4: That's a real good question [View All]

[gratuitous]

After all, Milosevic was tried in The Hague for his crimes against the people he was nominally the leader over. It seems mickle strange that Saddam, who was for all intents and purposes the government of Iraq during his ruthless reign, would be tried by that same government. Since a dictator's word is law, it's difficult to understand what Iraqi laws he will be accused of breaking at his trial.

International laws and human rights conventions, however, are easily transgressed by dictators, and just as easily prosecuted -- in the proper venue. Although such procedural niceties might seem esoteric (A crime's a crime, isn't it?), it's important to realize that Saddam's brutality was not just against the Iraqi citizenry, but an offense against world order and peace. The world should try Saddam and hold him responsible.

But that sort of thinking makes certain people in our nation's capital very uncomfortable. And for very good reason.