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.

[Ann Archy]

I have heard Alan Dershowitz say he would defend HITLER!!!!! These lefties are DISGUSTING!!!!

[Moose4]

Hey, let's give Saddam a fair trial in front of the Iraqi war crimes tribunal at al-Nurembergi, with ol' Ramsey defending him. Seriously, we need to give Hussein as fair and aboveboard a trial as possible. It'll prove to the Iraqis just how things are supposed to be done--by the rule of law, not with mob violence and brute force.

Then we can be treated to endless TV closeups of Ramsey's face as he watches Saddam hanging by the neck in the square where the statue was pulled down in April. That alone is priceless.

Let him defend Saddam. Let him try. Let him stand up and defend a man that is known to have killed over a half-million people in thirty years, not counting the Iran-Iraq and Kuwait wars. Let the world know that Ramsey Clark is a man that would try to let Saddam Hussein walk scot-free. He'll be so politically radioactive, only the fringe of the fringe will touch him after that.

Maybe I'm too much of an optimist, but I can't imagine even the bulk of the "anti-war" movement stomaching somebody trying to let a genocidal maniac like Hussein get off.

}:-)4

[NittanyLion]

You'll get no argument from me that he was wrong. But that isn't the same as claiming he supported Saddam remaining in power, as some on this thread have.

[squidly]

I don't think the outrage you see here is directed at the notion of Saddam having a lawyer, it's directed at the treasonous scum that is called Ramsey Clark. That's how I feel, anyway.

[NittanyLion]

No doubt, appeasement doesn't work.

[CyberCowboy777]

I am not one to beat a dead horse.......lol

[hole_n_one]

See what you started?

[CounterCounterCulture]

Ramsey Clark...son of a...

I had given the edge to Geoffrey Feiger over Mark Geragos, but I wasn't thinking high enough on the sphincter list to think of Ramsey. Damn. Can't believe this t**d is still around.

[hellinahandcart]

I did see someone from the International Red Cross on one of the national news shows (probably ABC) tonight all but demanding that the IRC see Saddam ASAP.

Slightly off-topic, but did I ever mention what I saw with my own eyes, bringing up the rear of the last ANSWER rally in DC?

Red Cross vans full of disabled commies who wouldn't have been able to "march" otherwise.

People ought to be really careful about donating their money. If the Red Cross ever wants one dime of mine, they will literally have to shoot me for it.

[cookcounty]

"The sad thing is that, despite the heinousness of Saddam's crimes, the families of his victims will see little satisfaction when Saddam is put on trial and executed. There's nothing that'll give them back their loved ones--and no death can be as excrucitating as what Saddam did to his victims."

But half the world does not know of Saddam's crimes, thanks to the lack of seriousness in the "profession" of journalism. People need to remember.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

And by the way, I'm a man...

Oh, sorry about that. Well, you and Michael Jackson have something in common then.

[NeoCaveman]

While I love my Catholic Brothers, we are not to put our trust in any man on the matter of faith. Faith comes by hearing (the Spirit) and hearing by the Word.

I love my Protestant brothers. Answer me this, in all due respect, if the Holy Spirit guides all who read the Bible sincerely, why are there so many interpretations and disagreements on the same text

Other than that, even within the Catholic teachings - the Pope is wrong on this.

I've said twice the Pope is wrong on this as it contradicts 2,000 of handed down tradition and Scripture. Which is probably why he only said it as his personal opinion.

[goodnesswins]

Yep....Dershowitz is on record as saying if he'd had the opportunity he would have defended HITLER.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I don't think the outrage you see here is directed at the notion of Saddam having a lawyer, it's directed at the treasonous scum that is called Ramsey Clark."

I know that, but Clark, insufferable as he is, is not guilty of treason, he's simply exercising his right as an American citizen to free political speech.

I do not agree with any part of it, but I do recognize his right to voice his opinions.

I don't think that he'll get to do it anyway, most likely, Saddam will get an Iraqi lawyer.

[CurlyBill]

Well, he might be happy Saddam's out of power, but Dershowitz is addicted to defending the most vile filth walking the earth. Regardless, I meant it as a joke anyway...

[cookcounty]

Your comment bears repeating:

"Let him defend Saddam. Let him try. Let him stand up and defend a man that is known to have killed over a half-million people in thirty years, not counting the Iran-Iraq and Kuwait wars. Let the world know that Ramsey Clark is a man that would try to let Saddam Hussein walk scot-free. He'll be so politically radioactive, only the fringe of the fringe will touch him after that."

[NeoCaveman]

But that isn't the same as claiming he supported Saddam remaining in power, as some on this thread have.

Gotcha. See how easy it is to misinterpret. I just did :-)

[TheGrimReaper]

Mr. Clark....put down the crack pipe, and come out with your hands UP!

[Mo1]

Therefore, it stands to reason that if they oppose the war, then they support the status quo, which was Saddam still in power.

Though I don't agree with the Pope on this issue

I also don't expect the Pope to say .. Kill the SOB

[BillF]

DC Chapter members Angelwood, Kristinn and I freeped Ramsey Clark last spring.

Kristinn handed Clark a David Horowitz pamphlet on the Communist origin of the current "peace movement" per quotes from his post below. (Click here for that post)

I politely stepped forward and asked Mr. Clark if he would take the pamphlet. He extended his hand and took it from me. He walked in the lunchroom followed by Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, A.N.S.W.E.R.'s Commie lawyer.

I offered Ms. Verheyden-Hilliard a pamphlet, saying that as a lawyer she could check it out for libel and slander. She ignored me.

Next was Brian Becker, a member of the secretariat of the Workers World Party and spokesman for A.N.S.W.E.R. I didn't speak to him and he didn't speak to me.

My sign at the FReep, based on a suggestion of Sauropod, was:
IMPEACH RAMSEY CLARK – ANTI-U.S. TRAITOR

Related thread: Ramsey Clark Now Alleges US Threatens 'Destiny of Humanity' (FR DC Chapter Protest mentioned)