Saddam's French lawyer wants Rumsfeld, Kissinger to testify

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040328/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_france_justice&cid=1514&ncid=1480

PARIS (AFP) - Controversial French lawyer Jacques Verges, who has said he will defend Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), said he would call US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to testify at the former Iraqi leader's trial.


Outlining his possible line of defense, Verges said he would also summon former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger to the witness stand in order to reveal Washington's past alleged links with Iraq (news - web sites).


In an interview on Sunday with private radio station Europe 1, Verges called Rumsfeld a "travelling salesman of toxins and chemical components" destined for use in Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program.


Rumsfeld went to Iraq in 1984 as a special envoy for then US president Ronald Reagan (news - web sites).


Verges also told Europe 1 that he had transcripts of discussions between Kissinger and Iraqi authorities about "resuming contact after an interruption". He did not specify the dates on which the conversations took place.

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[IndianaGreen]

1. Who gave Iraq WMDs?

Mr. Rumsfeld?

Mr. Kissinger?

[dudeness]

21. numerous US ..British and European countries

from what i understand indiana..a real can of worms here..

[frank frankly]

2. WHOOPS! I still cannot believe they were told to take him alive.

welcome back to the news, mr. kissinger. a lot of us have learned about you in the last three years.

we don't like you.

we can't comprehend how you are not in jail.

we know you are still doing the worst things a human can do.

[koopie57]

3. is it possible

to force Kissinger and Rumsfield to testify? How does a trial such as this work? How long do you think it will take to prepare for this trial?

[readmylips]

4. General Wes Clark Testified with no problem....

a few months ago, against Molosovic. Kissinger and Rumbutt will take the 5th.

[Zynx]

5. Kissinger has a lot to answer for.

[BattyDem]

6. Does anyone else think it's poetic justice ...

that a French lawyer will be the one putting the screws to Rummy and company? :evilgrin:

[NNN0LHI]

7. Don't get your hopes up

I don't think Saddam will be alive long enough for no trial.

Don

[54anickel]

9. I doubt they're treating that cancer he reportedly has. Or was that

later debunked?

[NNN0LHI]

11. Don't know. But he is 67 and could just keel over from a heart attack...

...at any given time.

Don

[BattyDem]

15. I know he'll never be brought to trial ...

but just the idea that it's a French guy who's even suggesting the possibility of Rummy testifying makes me smile. :D

[diamond14]

8. called Rumsfeld a "travelling salesman of toxins and chemical components"

"In an interview on Sunday with private radio station Europe 1, Verges called Rumsfeld a "travelling salesman of toxins and chemical components" destined for use in Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program."

[Supormom]

18. Fantastic quote!

Come to think of it, rummy does look like a traveling salesman.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I knew this was coming and yes Rummy shoudl testify

[peacetalksforall]

12. With a smile on my face.....

isn't France one of the countries Kissinger can't travel to....... ???because he's wanted for questioning about his Chile-Pinochet partnership to hatchet Allende and secure the copper and protect ITT?

Or will the trial be in Iraq with U.S. military on the jury?

[Sanity]

14. Isn't that a diplomatic immunity issue?

That would be a breach of diplomatic immunity if true.

[Rochambeau]

13. Jasques Vergès

They should really be careful because Jacques Vergès is a very special person. His speciality is to defend the very bad guys and the hopeless cases, he's very, very clever, he is very, very nasty and he has very good personnal connections with many people in the 3rd World (specifically former USSR controled 3rd world countries. He is a strange man with a murky and blurry past). He is also very efficient and easy with the medias.
Caution Rummy, if you have to deal with Vergès and his mates you will have some trouble !!!:evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[yardwork]

27. You mean he might be even more evil than Kissinger and Rumsfeld?

So much evil in one courtroom. It will never happen, though.

[Jacobin]

16. Ruh roh

Are they gonna ask about the "deal" they made and the chemical and bio weapons we gave him?

[NNN0LHI]

17. Or will he ask about the helicopters that the US supplied to Iraq...

...which were equipped to disperse the stuff? Or will he ask about the targeting intelligence that our government supplied Iraq for maximum effect when they were using their chemical weapons? Hoa, boy. The tangled webs we weave.

Don

[nodehopper]

19. will kissinger have to go abroad?

If he is subpoenaed, will he have to leave US borders if the trial is held elsewhere...I do believe he does not travel because he faces arrest in certain countries for complicity in various dictatorships' crimes against humanities.

[moondust]

20. Don't worry. Saddam still has plenty of time to die

of "mysterious causes" before he goes to trial. :smoke:

[Disturbed]

22. Kurds

Didn't the Kurds actually aprehend Saddam? Didn't the US refuse to give them the $25 Million reward?

[WilliamPitt]

23. "resuming contact after an interruption"

"He did not specify the dates on which the conversations took place."

That would be 1972, friends. Iraq had nationalized its oil recently, and the Nixon administration put Iraq on the list of terror-supporting nations. Nixon began arming the Kurds to rise against the Iraqi government.

In 1972, Iraq negotiated the hand-over of the all-important Shattab al-Arab waterway back to Iran, which was controlled then by the US puppet known as the Shah. After this, Nixon opened diplomatic connections with the Iraqi government again, and left the Kurds swinging in the wind.

"Covert operations should not be mistaked with missionary work," said Kissinger about the abandonment of the Kurds.

So...that's that.

[sam sarrha]

24. just try to deliver the supena !!!!!!!!!

[Ganja Ninja]

25. They can't put Rummy on the stand fast enough for me.

I hope this trial happens. Even if Rummy and Kissinger never stand trial it will be great to see them publicly accused before the world press.

[frank frankly]

26. kick

still makes me laugh