Saddam on trial

[Dreamweaver]

Interesting to see that Saddam Hussein is only being charged for the murder of 143 villagers of Dujail, despite having a charge sheet the length of a barge pole. Could this be an attempt by the west to distance themselves from their involvement in his crimes against humanity? Absolutely. I'm sure everyone on this site knows the history of the west's involvement, but it was sickening to see the plaudits being heaped on Mrs Thatcher as she celebrated her 80th birthday the other week.

On another note, the violations of trial procedure that seem to be dogging the whole process is another nail in the coffin of the idea of 'western civilization.' Even the Nuremberg defendants got a fair trial.

Now don't get me wrong. Saddam deserves what he gets for what he did, and justice for Saddam should not hide the issue of justice for the victims of Saddam, but I personally believe that those who supplied Saddam with the means to carry out these crimes should also be held accountable. Can't see it happening though. Would be interested to hear what other people think of this issue.

[Whiskers]

I agree with you. By extension, as an American citizen, I find myself guilty and should have done more to change the state of affairs. Writing my representatives, voting against Bush, speaking out on The Internet, extend goodwill and communicate with friends and co-workers about this stuff has yeilded nothing. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place. What more can I do? The only thing I can think of is to not give up.

I hope that our friends around the world understand that at least half of the USA were against this. Even our elected representatives went against our will. It's a sad state of affairs. This democracy no long works correctly. Even Bush's base is turning against him and the war continues.

I am baffled.

[David Mosley]

I believe the charge of the 143 murders is the first in what could be a series of charges, but since the Iraqi people and the Bush administration seem to be rooting for the death penalty for Saddam he may be hanged before any more charges can be put forward.

According to the Human Rights lawyer Geoffrey Robinson when he met the Iraqi judges last year (or sometime) they said they would have preferred to have the trial at the Hague* because then they could have had international judges as well as the Iraqi ones, who are in a grey area because they swore their Oaths of Allegiance to Saddam when he was President.

Anyway,the Bush groupies lobbied against moving the trial to the Hague because there's no death penalty there (?), even though most anti-war commentators believe that killing Saddam will just create a martyr.

*Home of the International Court of Law where 'western' war criminals like Milosavic are put on trial.