Milosevic trial nears fourth year

Pittsburgh post-gazette ^ | October 19, 2005

[joan]

Complexity of war crimes case against ex-Yugoslav president convinced Iraqi prosecutors to condense Saddam charges

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Three years and eight months into the war crimes trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, the courtroom still crackles with explosive outbursts.

...The prosecution of Mr. Milosevic and 125 other people by the 12-year-old tribunal is creating a body of law that many legal experts say will serve as a guide for future war crimes tribunals worldwide. Iraqi judges and officials from war crimes tribunals newly established in Africa and the Balkans have consulted court officials recently.

[joan]

This was written by someone from the Washington Post, so I only took a few excerpts.

[bill1952]

Iraqi judges and officials from war crimes tribunals newly established in Africa and the Balkans have consulted court officials recently.

To know what NOT to do, no doubt. The Hague is a joke.

[GSlob]

Well, learning is an ongoing process. Later the experience might flow in the other direction, from Baghdad to the Hague.

[Incorrigible]

Hussein is trying out Slobo's tactic of defiance in the court and not recognizing it as legitimate.

Slobo learned the trick of putting lawnmower engines under balsawood "tanks" to attract US air to ground missiles from Saddam.

No fan of unrepentant Commies but I think Slobo's stance in more legit in the Hague. Saddam at least is being tried by his own countrymen.

[Jacob Kell]

We should have just let Yugoslavia try the s.o.b. Then there probably wouldn't be this damn circus. This is fracking looney-tunes. It just shows that globalization sucks.

[joan]

Yes, and there are others here who know the monetary statistics - it's in the millions most likely.

[GSlob]

Then you'd need to have Yugoslavia under occupation first. It is not that easy to try virulent nationalists in virulently nationalistic places.

[A. Pole]

"The slowness sometimes doesn't give us the best image," Theodor Meron, president of the 25-judge tribunal, said in an interview. "But this is truly an historic case."

As historic as infamous Moscow show trials of 1930s. But not less odious.

Judge Meron, who was born in Poland, spent four years in a Nazi prison camp as a youth.

This in the moronic minds of Kangaroo Tribunal supporters makes Milosevic a Nazi.

Ship of Fools:

[ma bell]

If he were tried in Serbia, he would have been dead, dead and more dead 3 years, 3 months and 30 days ago.

[Jacob Kell]

Yeah, but Milosevic wasn't a nationalist. He was basically just a opportunist who wanted to hold onto power first and foremost. In fact, he used the REAL 'virulent nationalists' such as Arkan and Seselij as boogeymen. He basically said to the West. 'Look, who would you prefer to deal with...me or them?' In fact, Milosevic was probably more of a communist than a nationalist.

[Jacob Kell]

That would have been great.

[ma bell]

this is our boy hoplite with his wag the dog tail look upon learngn the ugly truth that he's been caught red-handed lying to everyone on here

[jb6]

Wow, you've got to hand it to them, they're making an entire career out of this one case.....they'll all be ready to retire by the time this "speedy" and "fair" trial is over.

[supercat]

We should have just let Yugoslavia try the s.o.b. Then there probably wouldn't be this damn circus. This is fracking looney-tunes. It just shows that globalization sucks.

IMHO, leaders should be allowed to go into exile but denied any particular protection. From what I can tell, leaders generally become exponentially more cruel and despotic as their world collapses around them; rather than punishing them, it would seem better to encourage them to get out while they still have a few friends left.

[Grzegorz 246]

Why the hell they are wasting so much cash ? This trash should be just killed.

[A. Pole]

This trash should be just killed.

What trash?