Posted on 10/16/2005 10:33:51 AM PDT by cloud8
Iraqis are clamoring for the Butcher of Baghdad's head.
In an exclusive interview on the eve of Saddam Hussein's trial, the country's prime minister told international journalist Daphne Barak executioners were lining up to administer justice.
The tyrant could face the death penalty for mass murder.
"That's not a problem," said Prime Minister Ibrahim alJaafari. "Many people already volunteered. Many people would love to do the job. This is a man who does not deserve any mercy."
The prime minister revealed some details about how Saddam's trial will be carried out so the proceedings - and the defendant - will be secure and the world can watch.
Saddam will have a safe, ringside seat when the first of 14 scheduled trials begins Wednesday.
"There will not be any physical contact with Saddam Hussein. [He will be in] a very special cage, a bulletproof one," al-Jaafari said.
The courtroom, in the heavily guarded Green Zone, will hold only 150 people.
"Trust me, it will be very difficult to hit with any kind of suicide bombing attempt," he said.
But a television feed will ensure that the world can watch the trial of this young century.
While there was no shortage of potential executioners, persuading witnesses to face the former dictator - and the wrath of his supporters - was more difficult.
"There are enough witnesses. ... They have been in the crime scene, some of them were part of the regime," he said.
They came forward after they were assured of their safety.
"The court provides a guarantee that Saddam Hussein's supporters can't touch them," alJaafari said.
"They are going to be protected, their names are going to be sealed. ... The court is designed in such a way that only the judges, Saddam Hussein and his attorneys will be able to see their faces."
Al-Jaafari said Saddam has offered a defense of sorts.
"He said that he didn't instruct the bloodshed personally," the prime minister said.
Al-Jaafari spoke with Barak in a Manhattan hotel as he attended last month's UN General Assembly.
He told her of the huge importance of beating insurgents battling American and Iraqi forces.
"Terrorism has not started in Iraq, but it will be ended in Iraq. ... Now Iraq is fighting as a frontier for the world against terrorism. If Iraq succeeds against terrorism, it will be crushing at least the lead and the will of the terrorists.
"[If it does not] succeed, it will be a tragedy for the rest of the world."
He said he could not see American troops withdrawing from Iraq until the country is capable of protecting itself - an achievement he was unable to put a time scale to.
But, he said, "When we reach that level ... we will tell the Americans that they have participated in setting up a democracy.
"This will be a letter of love between the two nations."
Daphne Barak has secured several exclusive interviews with world figures such as Mother Teresa and Yasser Arafat. In addition to her exclusives here in the U.S., her work appears in leading outlets around the world.
Originally published on October 16, 2005
What I want to know is, Will the world be able to watch the execution?
I would spit some beechnut in his eye and shoot him with my old 45
Have they decided whether to feed him to the shredder head first or feet first. I vote for feet first, very slowly.
Hank Williams Jr. sang that, right?
I suggest an old fashioned stoning. Tie him up in downtown Baghdad, and let the Iraqis line up and each throw one rock at him.
Yes he did
Must see TV!
I would suggest selling raffle tickets and $5 a piece, the winner to pull the switch on Saddam.
The Iraqi government putting Saddam Hussein on trial? He was just paying $25,000 to the families of Palestinian morons who killed Israelis by blowing themselves up. Beligerent Saddam...on trial? In his own country?
There is a God.
Sure, I'd trust his attorneys. Yeah, you bet. Uh-huh. Perfectly safe.
So "special" that it's bomb-proof??
Well that will be convenient after he's been convicted and sentenced to death. Just drop the cyanide tablet into the H2SO4 bucket next to his feet; and he's toast.
Pay-Per-View?
Someone could make a friggin fortune!
Pull the trigger.
Anyway, it's about time.
> the winner to pull the switch on Saddam.
Pull the switch? Give him the axe, more likely :)
They should auction executing Saddam on some type of Persian version of e-Bay. Not only would it raise a lot of money for the new country, it would be an early lesson in the advantages of contracting out government work. Bet they'd get a lot of bids from Kuwaitis.
The other idea would be to give every family member of a murder victim of Saddam or his sons a striaght razor and one free swipe. It would be the proverbial "death from 1,000 cuts". Only for Saddam, it will likely be more than 1,000.
Maybe we could have two winners of the raffle. The first winner gets to pick the manner in which he is executed the second gets to do the deed.
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