Posted on 12/05/2005 1:55:39 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Saddam Hussein's defense team walked out of the courtroom Monday shortly after the former leader's trial resumed because the judge refused to allow former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark to challenge the tribunal's legitimacy in an address to the court.
After the lawyers walked out, Saddam told the judge: "You are imposing lawyers on us. They are imposed lawyers. The court is imposed by itself. We reject that."
Clark said he needed only two minutes to present his argument. But Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin said the tribunal had been established under the law by an elected Iraqi government and that only Saddam's chief lawyer could address the hearing.
Amin said the defense should submit its motion in writing and warned that if the defense walked out then the court would appoint replacement lawyers.
"We reject the appointment of court employees to defend us," Saddam said.
He and his half brother Barazan Ibrahim then chanted "Long live Iraq, long live the Arab state."
When the judge explained that he was ruling in accordance with the law, Saddam replied: "This is a law made by America and does not reflect Iraqi sovereignty."
A guard tried to calm Ibrahim but he angrily told them to leave him alone.
The defense maintained that the court could not proceed to issues of substance before the matter of legitimacy and other procedural matters were resolved.
Saddam's chief lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, demanded that the court halt its proceedings until the challenge is ruled on. The judge replied that the proceedings must go on while the challenge is being deliberated.
Clark spent about 15 minutes trying to address the court, but the judge wouldn't let him, arguing that Arabic is the only recognized language of the court.
"We will give you enough time to address the court at a suitable time," said the judge.
At that point, Saddam snapped: "The American occupation continues."
Ramsey Clark is a putz.
Just shoot the piece of shiite in the head and tell our troops to start packing. And on the way out, make it clear to the damn Moos that if they so much as look at us sideways, we'll come back, cropdust them with liquid pig then glass the whole damn place.
The judge handling this case needs to grow a pair and fast. The other day when he let saddam go on about a broken elevator he should have had the bastard slapped in irons and gagged. A few days chained to a chair would change the attitude of that clown for the better and courtroom demeanor would improve greatly.
Bar Clark
I agree, Mr. Rearden.
Better Yet, Disbar Clark
Looks like you do not have any treason laws in the USA. By the way, as I posted in an earlier post, it is a shame that Clark was not old enough to represent the Nazis after WW2, he would have done a great job! He is a representative of your Democratic party's finest no doubt? No wonder you lost the Vietnam War!
If you set up a court then legitimate questions arise as to what authority the court has. The country does not have a constitution, by what authority it is acting? Who will review any decision of the court? Using what basis for their "precedents"? Without an established judicial system this is really just a kangaroo court. Sorry - just shoot the mf and take a week's int'l heat and get on with the elections.
That would be a sweet and refreshing treat.
Hey! Saddam isn't in charge anymore.
His antics will be dealt with.
It's all Saddam has.
He's guilty as sin and afraid to face justice.
How many times has your country lost their Vietnam "wars"?
Why not put the lawyers that walked out in a cell themselves?
They are their to defend Saddam, not to use American traitors as political fodder to muddy justice.
R. Clark is a walking, talking billboard for the nutty left.
They're probably hoping to get out of defending evil.
You know, I don't think Clark should have even been allowed in the country. I think he should be arrested by the Iraqi police and deported as a menace to national security.
You're too kind.
It was a huge mistake not dropping a hand grenade down that spider hole where saddam was hiding. Keeping this piece of crap alive has cost members of the coalition their lives in the form of attacks by loyalists who believe that saddam will return to power. Keeping him alive keeps their hope alive, IMHO.
I saw the video this morning. If MSM shows the clip FOX played, Clark will be seen for what he is; there will be no doubt those who are trying to undermine the US in the WAR are as crazy as he is.
Clark is a traitor. It is same as Clark pulling a stunt such as that if he was defending Hitler at Nurenburg (?sp).
The video said more than we could ever say. I guess that means MSM will edit out the Clark part.
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