Prospects for Saddam Trial Still Uncertain

[Khephra]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- In the year since he was captured and hustled away to a secret location, Saddam Hussein has taken up gardening, undergone a hernia operation and written poetry that one visitor describes as "rubbishy." What he has not done is meet with any of the 20 lawyers who claim to represent him.

And with the country in the grips of an insurgency that remains strong, predicting when Iraq's most famous prisoner will be tried is no easier now than it was on the day he was pulled from his hiding spot in a spider hole near his hometown of Tikrit.

When Saddam first appeared before an Iraqi court in July, some officials predicted a swift trial. Ever since, they have said October, November, or by the end of the year. Now, they expect it no earlier than the beginning of 2006, Iraq's National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie told The Associated Press.

"This is going to be probably the trial of the century and we have to get it right," al-Rubaie said. "We can't suddenly try him and sentence him to either life in prison or whatever, execute him a 100 times as some people want to do."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-saddam-a-year-later,0,4243061.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[passy]

1. I wonder why they are delaying the trial. Does he have too much to say?

Like who supplied him with biological weapons for example.
Anyone remember the Rumsfeld-Saddam handshake from the Reagan era?

[DeepModem Mom]

2. As I recall, Saddam made mincemeat of the judge...

at his first appearance, and we haven't seen him since. He would be, in all probability, diabolically clever to have achieved the power he achieved.

[LynnTheDem]

3. What evidence against Hussein?

And what evidence against Hussein that doesn't also indict the US of A?

Can't accuse him of "gassing the Kurds"...the USA supplied the gas. Reagan in particular. And add in the UK's gassing of the Kurds during their first invasion & occupation of Iraq, and the US's current use of WP and napalm. And the chemcial plant Iraq had in the 1980s was courtesy of the UK.

Can't accuse him of "mass graving millions", when bush's own forensic scientist admits only 5000 remains found and most date from the Iran-Iraq war. Can we say "Iran-Contra"? Can we say "IraqGate"? Yep we don't wannna go there.

Can't accuse him of invading Kuwait; that was already settled by the USA's own UN resolutions in 1991.

Can't charge him with putting down the Shia rebels in 1991; he did so with US permission, and specifically with permission from GHW Bush & Cartel, including Powell. And of course that's exactly what the US is doing now in Iraq; putting down Shia & Sunni rebels.

Kinda hard to accuse him of jailing innocent people, of rape & torture in his prisons...two words; Abu Ghraib.

Kinda tough accusing him of murdering anyone, when the USA just illegally invaded his country & killed a "conservative estimate" of 100,000 civilians in a "Supreme Crime" war of aggression.

He had no WMD since 1991, so can't accuse him of anything there.

Ties to al Qaeda or any other international terrorist orgs? Nope.

Involved with 911? Nope.

Could be tough. Especially for America.

Saddam trial 'may lack evidence'

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/18/1071337066012.html

[grumpy old fart]

4. I'm surprised * didn't kill him......

As a former CIA asset, he's got a lot to tell in any "trial".

[daleo]

7. I agree, it would be hypocrisy to the 10 thousandth power

Although, that never bothered the Bush family about anything else. One wonders if Saddam doesn't have the goods on the BFEE in some other way, like damning info that will be released if he dies. Still, significant percentages of the U.S. public apparently can't be swayed from Bush regardless of what comes out. To use Churchill's language, it is a riddle inside a mystery wrapped up in an enigma.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LynnTheDem]

6. I sure do detest ignorant rightwingnuts.

Don't you?

[daleo]

8. Bush only has daughters, unless you know something we don't

Oh, maybe you meant Saddam.

[LynnTheDem]

10. LOL!!!

Good one. :D

[Chicago Democrat]

9. His lawyer was on the BBC....

First of all his own lawyer has not been granted access. On the BBC interview his lawyer said:


First line of defense, Saddam is immune from prosecution from all crime do to the 1970 Constitution which is the basis of Paul Bremmer's rule. Also completely mirrors, Bush's and coalition forces OWN declarations of immunity from prosecution from crime, said Saddam's lawyer.

Take note CACI.