The Saddam trial by Riverbend

[Norquist Nemesis]

I used to read her blog regularly. Then there was a period of time that she didn't update (apparently because she had gotten sick AND they had electricity for about two hours a day). Anyway, her latest entry is about watching the trial. Poignant observation in her final remarks:
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com

"One thing that struck me about what the witnesses were saying- after the assassination attempt in Dujail, so much of what later unfolded is exactly what is happening now in parts of Iraq. They talked about how a complete orchard was demolished because the Mukhabarat thought people were hiding there and because they thought someone had tried to shoot Saddam from that area. That was like last year when the Americans razed orchards in Diyala because they believed insurgents were hiding there. Then they talked about the mass detentions- men, women and children- and its almost as if they are describing present-day Ramadi or Falloojah. The descriptions of cramped detention spaces, and torture are almost exactly the testimonies of prisoners in Abu Ghraib, etc.

It makes one wonder when Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney and the rest will have their day, as the accused, in court."

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Riverbend is so brave...

I cannot imagine what she goes thru every day.

K&R

on edit: from the Dec. 1 entry...

I intend to spend the rest of the night reading about Bush’s ‘strategy’ for Iraq. I haven’t seen it yet, but I expect it’ll be a repetition of the nonsense he’s been spewing for two and a half years now. Don’t Americans get tired of hearing the same thing?
:rofl:
Yes! we are!

As it is, people fear the Americans will be here for the next twenty years- unless they are bombed and attacked out of the country. Although many Iraqis support armed resistance in theory, I think that the average Iraqi simply wants to see them go back home in one piece- we feel sorry for them and especially sorry for their families at times. There are moments when you forget the personal affronts- the raids, the checkpoints, the fear of bombing, the detentions, etc. and you can see through it all to the actual person behind the weapons and body armor... On the other hand, you never forget that it's a foreign occupation and will meet with resistance like all foreign occupations.
:(

[madrchsod]

2. check out this site

http://baghdadtreasure.blogspot.com/
Treasure of Baghdad

he`s in the usa this week and provides some interesting insights into new york and boston. the first entry is his thoughts of iraq from new york..this guy and other bloggers from iraq are our only insights into what is really happening on the ground and what the iraqi`s are thinking. treasure of baghdad didn`t know riverbend had a book published untill he saw it at a book store here in the states...it really is worth taking the time to read his
"most excellent american adventure"

[seabeyond]

3. this strikes me and is hard for husband to hear. when i ask

what is the difference, do tell. from bush and the evil saddam that did the same to control the people. everytime i hear saddam story, i hear bush's too

[EC]

4. While watching the trial, I thought the same thing....

then too, I thought, the witnesses (victims) do not sound credible to me, it was like they were reading a script...

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Updated today for the elections

Interesting stuff...

The incident of the day yesterday was news of a tanker or truck that had been caught in the town of Wassit full of fake voting ballots from Iran. There is also news that voting centers haven’t been properly equipped in several Sunni provinces. There was a skirmish between Iraqi National Guard and the electoral committee to preside over elections in Salah Al-Din.

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/