Ex-U.S. Attorney General Ready To Defend Saddam

IslamOnline.net ^ | Dec. 15 2003 | Mustafa Abdel-Halim

[Senator Pardek]

CAIRO, December 15 (IslamOnline.net) – Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsy Clarke expressed readiness Sunday, December 14, to act as defense lawyer for ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, with western analysts suspecting the captured leader would be given fair trial.

"Certainly, why not. I am ready to act in his defense," Clarke told IslamOnline.net shortly after the U.S. confirmed the detention of Saddam near Tikrit.

Clarke, currently in Cairo to attend a two-day international anti-occupation conference, stressed that Saddam – however brutal – should be give a "fair, objective and impartial trial".

"Saddam must be domestically prosecuted first and - if this fails - he should be referred to an international court," said the former American official, known for his staunch opposition to the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.

He doubted, however, that the ousted Iraqi president would be given such a fair trial.

Clarke averred that neither the U.S.-installed Interim Governing Council (IGC) nor the occupation forces is eligible to try the overthrown president.

"The IGC does not represent Iraq. It is Bush's council," said the former U.S. attorney general.

He noted that the Iraqi body was quick to say that DNA test proved the captured man was Saddam.

"Do you think that they can take the test themselves. They are puppets," Clarke maintained.

For the occupation forces to take over the trial, he dismissed this as a would-be ridiculous proposal.

"Occupation of Iraq is in itself an international crime" and runs counter to common decency and moral integrity.

Asked if Saddam could be taken to the International Criminal Court, the former U.S. attorney general whimsically ruled out the suggestion, noting Washington does not even recognize the court.

[Senator Pardek]

Have at it.

[forward]

I can't have at it right now, I am throwing up.

[GiveEmDubya]

I'm shocked! Not.

[MindBender26]

The time is coming when all good Americans say "enough is enough" to these traitors.

[Ronin]

I'd like to see that scumbag traitor Clarke in the same cell with Saddam.

This is not surprising. In fact it would be a gas if it happened. Although it might give Saddam an excuse to plead incompetent counsel.

[Howlin]

By all means, "have at it."

[SouthernFreebird]

Clarke, currently in Cairo to attend a two-day international anti-occupation conference,

anyway we can keep him from landing on American soil again...?

[Howlin]

Cairo To Host Anti-Occupation, Imperialism Conference

The logo of the conference correspondents with its anti-U.S. hegemony message 

By Dalia Yusuf, IOL Staff

CAIRO, December 11 (IslamOnline.net) - Hundreds of Arab and international activists are expected to flock in Cairo on Saturday, December 13, for a two-day popular conference on U.S. hegemony and the foreign occupation of Iraq and Palestine.

The conference, to be held under the slogan: "Yes to resistance in Palestine and Iraq. No to capitalist globalization and U.S. hegemony", is to witness several workshops and sessions.

"Many international and Arab activists from different political parties and affiliations have sent papers that will be discussed during the conference’s sessions and workshops," Abdel-Aziz Al-Husseini, one of the organizers, told IslamOnline.net.

Among the prominent participants are veteran British politician Tony Benn, British MP Jeremy Corbyn, head of the Focus on the Global South Center Walden Bello.

Staunch anti-war opponents British lawmaker George Galloway and British activist John Rees, are to turn up for the event, organized by the international campaign against U.S. and Zionist Occupations (ICAUZO).

Also, delegates from several foreign countries including the U.S., Britain, Italy, Spain, Korea, Japan and the Philippines are to join colleagues from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen, Palestine and Iraq, said the organizers.

Different This Year

Unlike the first Cairo conference which was held in December 2002 in the run up to the U.S.-British invasion of Iraq, organizers and participants are keen on having as much independent and popular gathering as possible.

"We want to keep ourselves away from businessmen funds and the five star hotels," Wail Khalil, another organizer, told IOL.

"People should exchange their experiences and to feel of each others. We want it ‘people to people conference,’ " he added with a clear enthusiastic tone.

Most of the participants will be covering the costs of their travel and accommodation, organizers said, adding that volunteers in Cairo reiterated readiness to host some of the guests.

Many observers fear that this conference could not turn away last year’s – which had been characterized with much inflammatory speeches and less action – especially that the occupation of Iraq is now a fait accompli and Israeli aggressions against the Palestinians continue unabated.

But according to this year agenda, there will be a series of workshops aiming to exchange visions as well as practical experiences among the activists throughout the world.

Husseini underlined that the discussions will center on supporting resistance in Palestine and Iraq and global.

For Rees, the founder of the "Stop The War" coalition in the U.K., the Cairo conference this year will address "the most important issues that could formulate specific strategies to deal with the current situations."

This will be the second year Rees participates in the conference.

"This year many activists , not only from Britain but also from the whole Europe, will attend the event; they will be from different political, religious and ethnical backgrounds," he added, asserting that their aim is "to show their solidarity and sympathy with Iraq and Palestine."

Some observers see this year conference as a chance for Egyptian and Arab activists to acquire the experience of their European counterparts who succeeded in going beyond the stage of mobilizing people and organizing demonstrations, becoming key players inside their societies and being able to pressure their governments.

Most of Arab countries gave an implicit support for the U.S.-British invasion of Iraq, despite prevailing popular opposition and whipped up anti-American sentiments.

For More Information About the conference, Click HERE

[Dan from Michigan]

Ramsey Clarke needs to get the hell out of my country. Traitor.

[varina davis]

Is this a joke??!!

[MEG33]

So predictable.Ramsey is a commie loving,anti American,useful idiot.I wish he'd go live in Cuba.

[onyx]

Yeah, let Ramsey Clark have at it and take Jimmy Carter with him.

[Mo1]

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsy Clarke expressed readiness Sunday, December 14, to act as defense lawyer for ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, with western analysts suspecting the captured leader would be given fair trial.

WHY AM I NOT SURPRISE

Oh and when talking to people or email them about this .. Make sure to mention who Ramsey Clark once worked for

[dighton]

Yep, who else but old Ramsey?

[spyone]

Ramsey Clarke never fails to amaze.

[mylife]

Show us again what an A$$ you are Ramsey.

[Carolinamom]

anti-occupation = anti-freedom

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsy Clarke expressed readiness Sunday, December 14, to act as defense lawyer for ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein....

...thereby nosing out Jesse Jackson as ambulance chaser of the Western World.

[blau993]

Hey, guys. Ramsey Clark is a zero. There may be worse lawyers in the world, but he'll do. The internationalists love him, so when Saddam gets the big finger, who can complain! Go Ramsey!

[deport]

Heck... maybe he can entice Larry Klayman to drop out of the Florida Senate race and begin filing information request at the Hague and maybe get Bill Clinton to try his practice of law overseas since he's barred here for the time being.....

Now that would make a winning team .......