Regards, Ivan
Posted on 07/03/2004 3:18:55 AM PDT by MadIvan
SADDAM Hussein was "very demure and scared" during his first court hearing, according to Salem Chalabi, head of the Iraqi Special Tribunal which is trying the former dictator.
The fallen tyrant appeared defiant in the dock from TV footage beamed around the world, saying: "Bush is the real criminal." However, Mr Chalabi said Saddam suffered a series of mood swings.
"The worst mood swing was when the judge began to read the charges against him," Mr Chalabi told BBC2’s Newsnight programme.
"His mood suddenly dropped and he realised what he was up against - except when it came to Kuwait.
"Then he became combative. With the exception of a few incidents which are now being shown on TV he was very demure and scared."
The government yesterday questioned a British newspaper’s decision to identify the judge who sparred with Saddam during the court appearance.
A spokeswoman said of the Independent’s decision: "Fear of reprisals are a grave consideration in Iraq at the moment."
However, the editor of the Independent, Simon Kelner, said the judge had been recognised by Iraqis from TV footage of yesterday’s hearing.
"His name was published across the Arab world and we feel readers of western newspapers should have the same information as readers of Arab newspapers," Kelner said.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
BTTT
Actually, Christine Armanpour was the first to give an on camera description of the proceedings.
She described Saddam as demure also, and said his voice was barely audible.
Barely audible due to the fact her head was down his pants.
Disgusting media dogs. Trying to get sympathy for such a monster is really the end. Saddam's sorry he got caught, and that pretty much sums it up.
It'll be interesting to see how the Iraqis handle this dirty kind of free press over the years.
It will be messy, to be sure. But possibly living under a dictatorship has imbued them with the necessary cynicism to take what the press has to say with a grain of salt.
Regards, Ivan
There was a NYT pool reporter that had a press conference on FOX after the arraignment. He said Hussein made it to the defiant stage in about the last 6 minutes of a 26 minute arraignment. The rest of the time he said the demeanor was nervous and diminished.
What I saw was an arrogant b*****d who felt he is above all the laws made by God and man. Hope he's not expecting any special treatment. Just treat him like the criminal he is!
PING
If convicted what forms of execution are valid in Iraq? Are they using the firing squad, hanging or one of Saddam's methods?
OTOH, they could acquit him on some legal technicality, then announce the date, time and location of his release in Kurdish Territory . . .
Just watching the video it was clear that the media was misrepresenting. Once again they wanted us not to believe our own eyes.
And thanks for all the great articles you find and post. Delighted you're baaaaack!
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