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Haggard Saddam Defies Iraqi Tribunal ["This is all a theater, the real criminal is Bush."]
Rutters... er....Reuters ^ | July 1, 2004 | By Alistair Lyon

Posted on 07/01/2004 7:33:18 AM PDT by johnny7

BAGHDAD - Downcast but defiant, Iraq's deposed dictator Saddam Hussein appeared before an Iraqi tribunal on Thursday, refusing to recognize its authority and saying the "real criminal" was President Bush.

Saddam, who arrived at the courthouse in handcuffs and chains, was read seven charges under a preliminary arrest warrant and told his rights, pool reporters granted access to the heavily guarded proceedings said. "I am Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq," he repeated. Video footage of the 67-year-old Saddam, looking thinner, haggard and with a mostly gray beard, was broadcast around the world soon after his 30-minute court appearance. He had heavy bags under his eyes and was wearing a dark gray jacket and a white shirt, with no tie. It was the first footage shown of Saddam since he appeared unkempt with a bushy beard in photographs and videotape shot after his capture in December.

Saddam refused to recognize that he was guilty of a crime in invading and occupying Kuwait in 1990, telling the judge: "I did that for the Iraqi people. How can you defend these dogs?" The judge reprimanded Saddam for his language and reminded him he was in a court of law. He looked around with half-smile, saying: "This is all a theater, the real criminal is Bush."

He arrived in a U.S. helicopter at a military base and was then driven in an armored bus to the makeshift courtroom in one of his former palaces near Baghdad international airport. Two burly Iraqi guards escorted him into the courthouse where his chains were removed. His handcuffs were taken off inside the courtroom itself, where he sat down facing cameras.

TRIAL MONTHS AWAY
The arraignment was the first step toward a trial which could help Iraq come to terms with 35 years of Baath party brutality, though it may not start for many months.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fryhisass; iraqijustice; iraqitribunal; prisonersaddam; saddam
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To: johnny7
FREE MUMIA

FREE WILLY

FREE SADDAM

21 posted on 07/01/2004 7:53:32 AM PDT by doug from upland (Don't wait until it is too late to stop Hillary -- do something today!)
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To: johnny7

Uh, Saddam? Hate to tell you this, my man, but that noose over there? That ain't a prop.


22 posted on 07/01/2004 7:54:08 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Numbers Guy
I just picked this up on DU - let the squirming begin!

">

23 posted on 07/01/2004 7:55:50 AM PDT by Kenton ("Life is tough, and it's really tough when you're stupid" - Damon Runyon)
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To: johnny7

Hey Saddam ...your name aint Jean Luc Piccard of the Starship Enterprise...and Pres Bush is not a member of The Q


24 posted on 07/01/2004 7:56:54 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: johnny7

Saddam must have been watching US TV in his cell. He's got the presstitute line down pat.


25 posted on 07/01/2004 7:56:58 AM PDT by Indie (Ignorance of the truth is no excuse for stupidity.)
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To: johnny7
"I am Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq," he repeated.

And I am Zontar, king of the planet Xantu.

26 posted on 07/01/2004 7:57:16 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: johnny7
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1163610/posts

Defiant Saddam Rejects War Crimes Charges

27 posted on 07/01/2004 7:57:38 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: johnny7; All
a p.s. here: did anyone notice that Saddam reached into his pocket to pull out a pen to use for signing/taking notes whatever?

It was substantial - 'thicker than a Bic'; and I was amazed that he even had it. Would think they would give him nothing more than a two-inch pen to use; and then make sure he handed it over; before leaving room. . .I believe he put in back in his pocket; but not sure.

I was thinking; what if before he entered 'chamber'; he were handed a poison pen/one that could shoot a letahal gas; or one that was sharp enough to do damage should he decide to act up. . .

28 posted on 07/01/2004 7:59:38 AM PDT by cricket (To Hillary : We will not bow down to you. . .)
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To: johnny7
I think the Democrats have just found their vice-presidential running mate!

Think they'll spring him so he can deliver the keynote address to their convention?

29 posted on 07/01/2004 8:00:06 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (HaShem Melekh, HaShem malakh, HaShem yimlokh le`olam va`ed!)
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To: Kenton

Tactic? Hell, you will be able to take Saddam's words and directly place them next a number of lefties and you could not tell the difference between them. They hate America so much that they would side with genocidal dictators who employed rape rooms.


30 posted on 07/01/2004 8:01:17 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator (This space outsourced to India)
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To: Zansman

You beat me to it. His script was either written by McAwful or Michael Dinty Moore.


31 posted on 07/01/2004 8:01:57 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (We're all DOOOOOOOOMED!!! < /DNC talking points>)
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To: johnny7
It's fairly obvious that Saddam is going to give an Academy Award performance with the cameras on him for all the world to see. He's going to play this for all it's worth. Choosing not to shave and appearing haggard is all part of his new character as the persecuted people's president who's been unjustly imprisoned.

Get ready for some real theatrics.

32 posted on 07/01/2004 8:06:26 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: johnny7
So THAT's where the leftist media got their 'show trial' line.........

Such a lovely marriage, the American left with brutal, murdering dictators.

If liberals had any conscience left, they would be ashamed......

33 posted on 07/01/2004 8:08:53 AM PDT by ohioWfan (BUSH 2004 - Leadership, Integrity, Morality)
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To: johnny7
If I were Saddam, I'd fire my lead defense attorney, but fast. Last night on the news, I heard this clown say that the defense they are going to use centers on the idea that the trial is illegal because the government was overthrown in violation of law.

That's exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Nikolai Ceaucescu insisted in Romania before they were made into swiss cheese.

What a coincidence.

34 posted on 07/01/2004 8:09:10 AM PDT by mrobison (We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.)
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To: johnny7

I'm liking this Saddam appearance alot, vis-a-vis the link to the Democratic mantra. If only we could get him to do that Dean "YEEEHOW" scream from Iowa - it would be perfect!

"We're going to go to Mosul, and to Kirkuk, and to Sadr City and Basra, to chase George Bush out of the white house. YEEEHOW!"


35 posted on 07/01/2004 8:09:53 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: marshmallow

Fox News just now a translation of a phrase he used: "Truth is a relative issue."

Boy, if that doesn't just sound like x42!


36 posted on 07/01/2004 8:10:45 AM PDT by Judith Anne (Just another Bush-bot biddy drinking that Republican KoolAid)
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To: oceanview

LOL!


37 posted on 07/01/2004 8:11:12 AM PDT by ohioWfan (BUSH 2004 - Leadership, Integrity, Morality)
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To: johnny7

I wonder how the left feels that they have been asserting the EXACT same thing Hussein (who's been in complete isolation for months) has been thinking about every minute of the day since December?

Do you think it will dawn on them that they are in complete agreement with a person like Hussein?


38 posted on 07/01/2004 8:11:23 AM PDT by nuffsenuff
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To: johnny7
What I am not happy with is the fact that some Iraqi's said this morning that Bush is the criminal and agreed with Saddam.

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?

39 posted on 07/01/2004 8:15:22 AM PDT by SheLion (Please register to vote! We can't afford to remain silent!!)
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To: Condor51
An aside; there should be a pool as to which RAT in congress will start saying Saddam's being railroaded and being treated unfairly. Pelosi, Leahy, Rangel, Bernie Sanders, Sheila Jackson Lee? Hmm, tough choices....

You forgot, Kennedy, Kerry, Gephardt, CBS, NBC, ABC, NPR, Alan Colmes, Al Bore, Barbara Streisand, Big Fat Moore.. I know there's 'more'.

40 posted on 07/01/2004 8:16:56 AM PDT by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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