Saddam in his previous life on a CBS drama.
Posted on 07/01/2004 7:32:35 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Jul 1, 9:08 AM (ET) "I am Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq," he told a hearing where he was read seven charges, according to pool reporters in the courtroom at Camp Victory, a sprawling U.S. base that was previously a lavish hunting estate with a man-made lake. "This is all theater. The real criminal is (U.S. President George W.) Bush," he said. In television pictures broadcast around the world on Thursday shortly after the proceedings, Saddam looking haggard with a neatly trimmed beard that had mostly turned grey. He was wearing a dark gray jacket over a white shirt, with no tie. It was the first footage shown of the ousted Iraqi leader since photographs and videotape taken after his capture in December. Saddam, 67, was shown gesticulating toward the judge, and at times wagging his finger angrily. He was thinner than when he was captured hiding in a hole near his hometown of Tikrit in December and he had bags under his eyes. Saddam also declared that the country's occupiers could not strip him of his title of president. The judge told him that, under the Geneva Conventions, they could. Saddam refused to concede that the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was a crime, denouncing the Kuwaitis. "They were trying to turn Iraqi women into prostitutes for just $10," he said. "How could you defend those dogs?" The judge warned him not to use such language. Saddam also refused to sign a statement acknowledging that he had been charged and read his rights. The hearing followed the end of his prisoner of war status and his transfer from U.S. to Iraqi legal custody on Wednesday. Hearing the charge that he ordered the killing of thousands of Kurds in a poison gas attack at Halabja in 1988, Saddam seemed to imply he had nothing to do with it. "Yes, I heard about that," he said. Two burly Iraqi guards escorted him into the courthouse. His chains were removed before he reached the courtroom and the handcuffs were taken off inside the room. The courtroom is close to the palace in the middle of an artificial lake stocked with fish on the southwest fringe of Baghdad. Members of Saddam's inner circle used to go hunting in the grounds, and soldiers say Saddam's playboy son Uday used one of the palace buildings for his assignations. The small sandstone-colored court building is next to a blue-domed mosque, and was formerly the imam's residence. It has been used for several courts martial, and for last week's hearing for Specialist Sabrina Harman, one of the seven American soldiers charged with abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib jail -- where thousands of Iraqis were imprisoned and tortured under Saddam. Told by the judge at the hearing that legal counsel would be provided for him if he needed it, Saddam said: "But everyone says, the Americans say, I have millions of dollars stashed away in Geneva. Why shouldn't I afford a lawyer?"
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - He arrived handcuffed and in chains at a courtroom in a complex that was once one of his palaces. But although Saddam Hussein has been overthrown and captured, he had not lost his defiance.
:::Sigh:::
If you don't know what his crimes are, why don't you go ask an Iraqi, like the ones who got limbs chopped off and got dipped in acid? Why don't you try asking some of those Kurds who endured the gas attack--if any are left? Why don't you find out the real history of Abu Ghraib prison?
Go on, believe whatever Michael Moore tells you. You know you want to.
Damn, the bast*rd looks good, lost a little weight. Less tension on the rope, but we'll give him an extra half hour to "hang around".
Saddam in his previous life on a CBS drama.
Yeah, Saddam, that is what all the criminals say...."I didn't do it. I am innocent."
"The real criminal is Bush".
I like to think I keep "current" on various newsworthy items. But I guess there is a bunch I don't know about Saddam.
Until today, I had no idea he was a card carrying Democrat, nor did I realize he obviously has deep roots in the Hollywood community. I also suspect he is a friend of Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks.
How else can you explain his saying EXACTLY what all of the above have been saying?
Just a thought....
Saddam seem to be in agreement with Michael Moore. What chumps Moore's supporters are!
I switched over to MSNBC when Fox had on a Bush basher, and this is what I found. They were interviewing Iraqi's on the street, and they said Saddam should not be in court. That Bush is the criminal and he should be in court. These were young men, too.
I have an uneasy feeling that Saddam will be set free and take over Iraq again. If not bold faced, but underground.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Somebody needs to photoshop Saddam with pants on his head, a shoe held to his ear like a telephone, and holding up a sign that says IMADUER...
Actually, that would read better as "I did not have sexual relations with that man, Bill Clinton..."
... but I did have it with Dan Rather!
When Fox had on a Bush Basher, I switched over to MSNBC for awhile. MSNBC had a journalist in Iraq interviewing people on the street. This one man, couldn't have been more then 23 years-old, stated that Saddam was right. Bush should be in court because he is the criminal. Not Saddam. Made me sick. I switched back to Fox.
And an...
LPer
Libertarian
Green
Democrat
European
UN Secretary General
Canadian Politician
etc, etc.
These same people would love to see our President convicted for the uncomfortable condition of prisoners at Abu-Garab(sp). Never mind that those who committed the acts are probably fellow Democrats anyway.
That's why it's in such great shape now. Perhaps Saddam was doing what he felt was justified to keep his country together. The whole story of Joshua was that of a leader who used incredibly brutal force to keep his country together. Maybe that was the only form of government that would work to unify a violent, warring, sect-divided country.
Oh, so it's the Iraqi people's fault. They were asking to be butchered, tortured, and raped by the hundreds of thousands. This guy has a tinfoil hat for his tinfoil hat.
LOL Sadaam Insane!
Just behead him, tape it and broadcast it all over the world.
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