Posted on 06/30/2004 6:22:26 PM PDT by blam
Relaxed Saddam 'cannot wait' for hearing
By Jack Fairweather in Baghdad
(Filed: 01/07/2004)
Saddam Hussein wished onlookers good morning and tried to fire off questions to the judge when he was handed over to Iraqi legal custody yesterday.
During a closed ceremony at an American military base, he appeared to be in a relaxed mood as he and 11 of his former lieutenants were read their rights.
"He said good morning. He wanted to talk about what would happen," said Salem Chalabi, the American-educated lawyer who set up the special tribunal that will try the high-ranking Ba'athists. "We had to ask him to wait."
Saddam was wearing Arab dress and no longer had a beard at the hearing, which lasted for only a couple of minutes. The charges will be read out to him and his lieutenants during a televised court session today.
Some of Saddam's aides were nervous or hostile during the hearing, according to witnesses. Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali" for his use of poison gas against Kurdish villagers, was said to be shaking. "Some of them looked very worried," said Mr Chalabi.
The British Government handed over Ali in defiance of its usual policy of demanding that the death penalty will not be imposed. Members of the interim government have indicated that Saddam, at least, may face capital punishment if found guilty of crimes against humanity.
Downing Street said yesterday that Britain had informed the new Iraqi government of its opposition to imposing the death penalty on Saddam but recognised Iraq's right to decide how its judicial system should operate.
Saddam's trial is expected to start in several months' time and Mr Chalabi fears his biggest challenge will be curbing the former dictator's tongue.
"Saddam is going to want to use the tribunal as a platform for his political views," Mr Chalabi said. "But we're not going to let him. We're going to make him focus on the very specific charges against him."
Funny... BBC said he was rather nervous...
Clearly, you don't live in the Bay Area...
I agree with you...You can be the foreign press will make hay out of this from day one. The world will be clamoring for the court to allow him to make a statement and you can bet that there will be daily demonstrations in front the court house/building with his supporters. They will attempt to intimidate the legal system. Also prepare yourselves to hearing Saddam defending himself regards Kuwait (invasion supposedly authorized by the US itself), chemical weapons were provided by the US against the Kurds and Iran, etc. and that the millions who died were a result from the sanctions. For those who were killed by his administration, he will point out that he was simply trying to defend his government, common law, etc. and will point out the hypocrisy of us killing thousands of Iraqi's ourselves trying to defend the current government & common law. I think we will regret he didn't die in a shoot-out or an induced illness...
I read and heard the same thing. Some Iraqis who were in the room said he became very nervous when he realized he was being turned over to his fellow Iraqis for trial.
Yup. Here it is.
To add.....if we don't allow Saddam to defend himself in the way the "world" and his supporters want him to, we will be accused of putting on a "show trial" just like we accused the Chinese and Russians did in bygone era's. Once again, I think this going to be a fiasco...
He would be crazy if he weren't nervous about what awaits him. Oh wait. He is crazy.
"read his rights". Can someone provide a link as to just what his "rights" are under the Iraqi law?
I'll take that bet. Any protestor outside the courthouse who isn't actively firing a weapon would be pounded into the asphalt by ordinary Iraqi citizens within seconds. Saddam was hated.
The trial is going to be a repeat of Ceaucescu's. My bet is Saddam is going to become extremely delusional, thinking that he's still in power, the people still love him. Like the "Genius of the Carpathians", then Saddam will meet his end immediately after the trial.
You will have to stay up really late if you want to see it live...2:30 am EST, I believe.
I don't have a link, but I think he has the right to squeal like a baby when the rope is placed around his neck at the gallows.
He was obviously delusional when he came out of the hole. Like Ceaucescu, right now he is thinking he is still invincible. Wait til he gets the whole picture...then his sociopath self will out.
I prefer to think of it as squealing like a pig. :o)
Whichever.....please let the squealing be televised LIVE
If he's been reading some of the American press, it is likely he believes his return to power is imminent.
I'm not sure that it will be televised here -- I was thinking of Iraq. But the US Cable channels will be there if the Iraqis allow it!
Ah ha. At last a valid forum to show Sadams torture videos ... day in, day out.
Sooooooo, Saddam's tanned, rested and relaxed?
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