Saddam trial lacks 'smoking gun' evidence, witnesses

[radwriter0555]

as I've said all along.

The US has no basis in fact to charge saddam with anything, and the iraqis have none either.

LONDON (AFP) - Prosecutors are struggling to build a case against Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) because they lack both witnesses and evidence to prove the ousted Iraqi dictator is guilty of atrocities.

Although the US-led coalition has caught 40 of the 55 people on its list of "most-wanted" Iraqis linked to Saddam's former regime, none of them will testify for the prosecution, according to a British official quoted by The Times on Monday.

"It's the fear factor," he explained. "Saddam may be in custody but the other detainees know from past experience that if they turned 'Queen's evidence', revenge would be taken against members of their families".

The newspaper's source also said the Iraqi dictator, ousted by the US and British invasion in March 2003, had hidden any written proof of his direct responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Saddam has been in US custody in an undisclosed location since his capture on December 13, and is due to be tried along other members of his ousted regime by a special Iraqi tribunal. A 20-member defense team appointed by Saddam's family has complained about not being able to meet its client and accused the US authorities of holding him in breach of the Geneva Conventions.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040608/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_saddam_justice_040608000035

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. So...

how long until Saddam's "shot while trying to escape," then?

[Canuckistanian]

2. The US? What charges could the US make?

For all the demonisation of Saddam, he has done nothing to threaten or harm the US.

It was the US who invaded his country twice.
It was the US who led the UN sanctions against Iraq.
It was the US who imposed the "no-fly rule" against Iraq.

Although he was dangerous and had invaded two countries, Iran and Kuwait, not even those countries agreed with the invasion of Iraq and refused to participate.

As for helping terrorists, WTF? Any scenario of Saddam cooperating with Islamic fundamentalists is laughable.

Saddam did make some boastful threats against the US, but never followed through, either in fact or in planning.

The plain fact is, the containment policy was working.