'I AM PRESIDENT,' SADDAM SPUTTERS IN CRAZED COURT RANT - BUT JUDGE SHOWS WHO'S BOSS

New York Post ^ | 7/02/04 | NILES LATHEM

[kattracks]

July 2, 2004 -- A belligerent Saddam Hussein stared down an Iraqi judge yesterday as he scoffed at genocide charges against him, called Kuwaitis "dogs," and declared the "real criminal" is President Bush. In an extraordinary first public appearance since his capture by U.S. forces in a spider hole last December, the 67-year-old ex-Butcher of Baghdad struck a defiant and arrogant tone at his official arraignment — even lecturing the judge on Iraqi law.

Stabbing the air and often using mocking words, Saddam ranted that representatives of the Iraqi legal system, who will try him for his war crimes, are stooges of the American "occupation" and that the proceedings were illegal.

He refused to sign a list of charges against him until he was able to meet his lawyers.

"You know this is all theater by Bush the criminal to help him with his campaign," Saddam said at one point.

[kattracks]

[Tom_Busch]

BUT JUDGE SHOWS WHO'S BOSS

I saw some French clown on MSNBC claiming that the judge was intimidated by Saddam. I only saw a few seconds of footage of the judge, but he didn't look intimidated to me.

[kb2614]

You sure this wasn't another Gore rant???

[luvbach1]

Why wasn't Saddam allowed to have an attorney accompany him? One of his attorneys (don't know whether he was official or not) said (on tv) that he was rebuffed in numerous attempts to make contact with decision makers and be allowed to represent Saddam at the preliminary hearing. Saddam's lack of an attorney (especially when he said he wanted one) gave a negative impression, not that it would make any difference in the long run.

[goldstategop]

He's saner than Michael Moore, Howard Dean and Al Gore. Give him some credit.

[goldstategop]

He's saner than Michael Moore, Howard Dean and Al Gore. Give him some credit.

[Las Vegas Dave]

You forgot Hillary, John F'n Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, etc. etc. (the list is way too long to continue!)

[Salamander]

""You know this is all theater by Bush the criminal to help him with his campaign," Saddam said at one point."

I wonder what 'nick Saddam uses when he logs onto DU to get his daily talking points?

[anonymoussierra]

There was protocol security breach. The cemera should not show judge. Sadam is finish.

[Caipirabob]

I wonder if the kerry campaign will solicit Saddam for endorsements? This would seem an ideal time with all the air time he is about to receive. I mean, after Al Gore, MoveOn.Freak, Micheal "The Hutt" Moore, just what have they got to lose?

[goldstategop]

They can move to have Saddam nominated for President. They'll find a birth certificate proving he was really an American born in Iraq to an American mother. <sarcasm

[SamAdams76]

Just thought you all should know...Saddam's overthrow, capture and upcoming criminal trial is all Bush's fault.

[RaginRak]

Arrogant and ignores the truth!!!Looks like Kerry has his Vice President pick!!

[muir_redwoods]

This guy need a little "Prison Counsel" a few Iraqi nationals with scores to settle should be cell-mates for a few hours and then let's see how much he wants to rant.If he keeps it up he can get more new cell-mates.

[PJ-Comix]

Maybe Saddam will use his trial forum to urge Americans to vote for Kerry.

[Glenn]

Why wasn't Saddam allowed to have an attorney accompany him?

Because it is an Iraqi court and the rules are different.

Why do you even ask the question?

[BlessedBeGod]

Oh, they cleaned him up. He almost looks respectable now. < /sarcasm >

[Justa]

"Why wasn't Saddam allowed to have an attorney accompany him? One of his attorneys (don't know whether he was official or not) said (on tv) that he was rebuffed in numerous attempts to make contact with decision makers and be allowed to represent Saddam at the preliminary hearing. Saddam's lack of an attorney..."

Isn't it ironic that the man who made his own laws and justice in Iraq for 30 years is now at the mercy of the very legal system he crippled in order to run his regime? Where he had previously exploited the law to rule without challenge he is now bereft of adequate legal counsel. Shocking. Oh, but he will get justice ...the people's, not his.

I'm sorry if this disturbs you; there's always... Cuba.

[SuziQ]

Saddam's wife and daughters have hired a 20-member team of international lawyers to defend the ex-dictator.

Now where do you suppose they got the money to do that? /sarcasm

[Criminal Number 18F]

I've seen a guy act like this in a courtroom before. And last time I saw him he had the same scroungy grey beard and wild-eyed look (although I couldn't find a very recent picture of him). Can someone check and make sure this cat:

Is still in Crowbar Motel?

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F