Saddam Set to Appear Before Iraqi Judges

[mia]

By Alistair Lyon

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein will be handed over to Iraqi justice on Wednesday to be charged with crimes against humanity, but U.S. soldiers will still guard him to ensure he does not escape.

Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi called a news conference on Tuesday, a day after Iraq regained sovereignty from Washington, to announce Saddam and up to 11 top members of his deposed government would appear before Iraqi judges on Thursday.

Saddam would be charged with crimes against humanity for a 1988 massacre of Kurds, the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, said Salem Chalabi, a lawyer leading the work of a tribunal that will try the former Iraqi leader.

French lawyer Emmanuel Ludot, one of a 20-strong team appointed by Saddam's wife to represent him, said the former president would refuse to acknowledge any court or any judge.

"It will be a court of vengeance, a settling of scores," Ludot told France Info radio, saying any judge sitting in the court would be under pressure to find Saddam guilty. Ludot said he expected Saddam to say last year's U.S.-led war was illegal.

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Allawi said the U.S.-led multinational force would keep physical custody of Saddam and the other 11 until Iraq's nascent police force was capable of detaining them securely.

The tribunal would give them a fair and open trial, but it would not start for several months, Allawi said.

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I wonder how this trial will impact our election.

[DrWeird]

1. When do we hand over Bush?

I'm sure there are plenty of Iraqis that would like a cross-examination.

[mia]

3. or starting with the 1988 gassing of the Kurds, how about Rumsfeld?

The Saddam in Rumsfeld’s Closet

“Man and the turtle are very much alike. Neither makes any progress without sticking his neck out.”
—Donald Rumsfeld

Throughout the period that Rumsfeld was Reagan’s Middle East envoy, Iraq was frantically purchasing hardware from American firms, empowered by the White House to sell. The buying frenzy began immediately after Iraq was removed from the list of alleged sponsors of terrorism in 1982. According to a February 13, 1991 Los Angeles Times article:

“First on Hussein's shopping list was helicopters -- he bought 60 Hughes helicopters and trainers with little notice. However, a second order of 10 twin-engine Bell "Huey" helicopters, like those used to carry combat troops in Vietnam, prompted congressional opposition in August, 1983... Nonetheless, the sale was approved.”

In 1984, according to The LA Times, the State Department—in the name of “increased American penetration of the extremely competitive civilian aircraft market”—pushed through the sale of 45 Bell 214ST helicopters to Iraq. The helicopters, worth some $200 million, were originally designed for military purposes. The New York Times later reported that Saddam “transferred many, if not all to his military.”

In 1988, Saddam’s forces attacked Kurdish civilians with poisonous gas from Iraqi helicopters and planes. U.S. intelligence sources told The LA Times in 1991, they “believe that the American-built helicopters were among those dropping the deadly bombs.”

In response to the gassing, sweeping sanctions were unanimously passed by the US Senate that would have denied Iraq access to most US technology. The measure was killed by the White House.

[FloridaPat]

2. Probably start the week before the election. Enough time to

remind people Sadam is going to trial but not enough time for any US involvement in the crimes to come up.

[Magleetis]

4. CBS news

tonight was like a Bush campaign commercial. Rather said that Saddam was beginning to talk about his plans for WMD's and what he would have done if sanctions had not been in place. Maybe Saddam confirming Shrubs reasons for war will be the Oct surprise. I am not a fan of Saddam but I don't understand why when he kills people it is a crime and when Bush kills people it is liberation.

[freeforall]

5. Probably another * ploy to make himself look accomodating, but

...this is good. Saddam should be tried by the Iraqi people rather than the US.

[candy331]

7. So if the puppet Iraqi govt says no to death will the puppet master

ride with this/pressure for the death penalty to close his mouth? He knows much.

[Moderator]

6. mia

Per DU copyright rules
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DU Moderator