I don't have much to say about it, but seeing pictures of Saddam on trial rather than peacefully retired in Qatar or Syria sure is nice.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein's defense team walked out of court Monday, the former leader yelled at the judge, and Saddam's half brother shouted "Why don't you just execute us!" in an often unruly court session that also saw former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark speak on behalf of the deposed president.
Hopefully we'll be able to oblige Saddam and his brother. Ramsey Clark, however, probably won't get what he deserves.
Ramsey Clark's job is entirely necessary. This trial must be fair, so Hussein must have representation. (afaik, Clark was mostly appealing for adequate protection for the remaining defence team, after two lawyers were murdered).
Remember, this is why we're the good guys, and they're the bad guys. If we cut any corners on the trial, we loose the moral high ground.
I agree. The most heinous mass murderers or child molesters in the country deserve fair and adequate legal representation. If the judges and jurists are unbiased and the prosecution's case is strong enough, it shouldn't matter - but if there's a chance the evidence is ambigious, and it's possible the accused might be innocent it's vital their be a prosecutor and defender that make sure all the facts are straight. And even if they are, the punishments for various crimes need to be regulated with justice, and the guilty need defenders who know the law and can make sure they're sentenced fairly and legally.
And that applies to overseas as well.
That said, in the picture you have of Saddam - he offers a tempting target, doesn't he? I'm surprised an armed mob of angry Iraqi's haven't already taken the chance and stormed the place.
You have to admit Ramsey Clark has balls, to sit there and declare America is the biggest war criminal and mass urder in the world, while defending Saddam's war crimes and mass murder as legitimate means to keep his population in line.
I think that we have a real teaching moment. "Why don't you just execute us!" is the exclamation of somebody who just doesn't get it. They don't understand the rule of law. They don't fundamentally understand justice itself.
That's an important thing, justice. It would be nice if, along the way, Saddam has a moment of clarity and realizes what a moral monster he is and why he must pay for his crimes. It wouldn't bring back any of the dead but it really would provide a small smidgen of ease to his surviving victims.
I think you guys are giving Clark way too much credit. Just as when he defended Milosevic, his goal isn't to protect the rights of a mass murderer but to embarrass the United States. Saddam's trial is just a stage he can mount to fling crap at America. Don't buy into his facade that he cares about the rights of Saddam Hussein.