NY Times: Saddam Trial Should Wait Until After Elections (LOL!)

The New York Times ^ | July 1, 2004 | NYT Editorial Board

[Dems_R_Losers]

In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, courts counted for nothing, while fear, death and vengeance were the only laws of the land. A new Iraq must be built on more solid foundations: democracy and the rule of law. One of the first challenges will be bringing Saddam Hussein to justice. His trial can be a significant step toward the rule of law — or a detour back to the rule of revenge. He should have a fair trial under an elected government applying the relevant principles of Iraqi and international law.

Mr. Hussein and 11 top associates will be formally charged today with crimes against humanity before a special tribunal established by the American occupation authorities last December and led by Salem Chalabi, a nephew of Ahmad Chalabi. Trying the accused properly will take many months — and not just because the accused need time to prepare a legal defense. These trials are an opportunity to unravel the mysteries and crimes of the Baathist era, including the secret mass graves and the true story of unconventional weapons programs, to determine where criminal responsibility rests in the chain of command.

The actual trials should not begin until an elected government takes power, a step planned for next January. Starting them sooner might produce political dividends for the appointed Iraqi interim government or the Bush re-election campaign. But it would not serve justice or help restore Iraq's standing in the international community.

[maryz]

This looks like a perfect election tool for the democrats.

LOL! Polish that reply up a bit and send it as a letter to the editor of the NYT! (Being as sweetly disingenuous as possible, of course!)

[maryz]

But it would not serve justice or help restore Iraq's standing in the international community.

Um, would this be the same "international community" that worked hand-in-glove with Saddam to screw the Iraqi people in the "oil-for-food" scam? A more salient question would be how the "international community" can restore its standing in Iraq.

[Fzob]

These trials are an opportunity to unravel the mysteries and crimes of the Baathist era, including the secret mass graves and the true story of unconventional weapons programs, to determine where criminal responsibility rests in the chain of command.

Stories of unconventional weapons????? Huh?????

Jeez the NYSlimes has been beating the no WMD like a rented mule. Now they tacitly admit there are weapons????? - and the Iraqi government needs to wait to kill the Batthist scum to make sure they have time to get the facts

ROTFLMAS.

[dawn53]

NYT headline if Sadaam was night tried right away.

Postponing Sadaam's Trial Proves that New Iraqi Gov't and Bush Administration Are Failures

[Terp]

I don't have the link but I read today that the Iraqi Government isn't going to start the trial until mid-2005. So it looks like the NYT is going to get their wish.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Enough for you?

You forgot FAT Mike [the pig] Moore

[Preachin']

Starting them sooner might produce political dividends for the appointed Iraqi interim government or the Bush re-election campaign.

This will be painful for the democrats. I hope it happens in late October of this year.

[SSR1]

Funny, The MSM should get their story straight. Daniel Shore on NPR yesterday was bloviating about how the Bush administration WANTS to keep Saddam off the witness stand till after the election. It is Shore's contention that W ( not to mention 41 ) would be embarassed by exposed connections to Saddam.

So what is the MSM doing here? Do they really think that 41 and W where really supplying Saddam? It sounds foolish on the face of it.

The media is scared.

[guitfiddlist]

His trial can be a significant step toward the rule of law — or a detour back to the rule of revenge

Well, of course. They need time to institute a 9th Circus Court, develop golf courses and sleazy corrupt lawyers - and glorify the process of law over Justice. God forbid they would use the process of law for vengeance against a mass murderer.

[BunnySlippers]

Funny, they didn't think that the Michael Moore film should wait til after the elections.

[leprechaun9]

The NY Slimes should cease publication until they can become a news outlet rather than an extension of Socialist Liberal Dictates!

[TomGuy]

NYT has had some 200 articles of US abuse at Abu Ghraib. NYT are now afraid that, when the Saddam trial starts, the 'real abuses' at Abu Ghraib by Hussein and Co will emerge, show up the NYT for the biased, leftist, agenda-ist publication it has become.

Saddam's Abu Ghraib had real abuses and tortures, Teddy K. Maybe after this trial, Teddy K can distinguish the difference between real atrocities and college-type pranks.

[TomGuy]

You omitted

Perky Katie, who had wished that 'Saddam, hopefully, had escaped to Syria'

[Jonx6]

The first time I heard the phrase "the old gray lady" I couldn't believe they were talking about this dirty grey whore.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[Snerfling]

If the NYTimes was any more biased, they would be the Taliban LA Times.

[BlessedBeGod]

Name one, just one ally of Saddam.

It's not so much that they're allies of Saddam, it's that they're anti-Bush.

[Badeye]

Another example of why I'm puzzled anybody buys this rag. The NYT understands that this trial will graphically remind the world what "torture" truly is.

And it has nothing to do with panties on top of your head.

[Pharmer]

"Old Gray Lady wears no clothes"

Thanks for the visual...=^)

[jriemer]

Did the NYT make a similar stink in 1989 when we invaded Panama, captured their dictator, brought him to the US for trial and incarceration? No. It wasn't an election year.