A great week for George Bush exposes gap between parties

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 12/15/03 | George Will

[bdeaner]

The tyrant's capture has triggered a predictable chorus from those who have consistently subordinated the interests of Iraq, and other things, to their agenda for aggrandizing international institutions. They say an international tribunal should have a role - perhaps the role - in the trial of Saddam Hussein. So it is timely to recall the Nuremberg anomaly.

The charges against leading Nazis in the war-crimes tribunal included waging aggressive war. The judges included - necessarily but grotesquely - a representative of the Soviet Union, which was Hitler's ally in September 1939 when he invaded Poland, and which participated in Poland's dismemberment. It would be unseemly for Saddam to be tried in front of judges from, say, France, Germany and Russia, which tried mightily to prevent his removal.

[bdeaner]

As far as talking points go, the more Saddam's trial is associated with Nuremberg, the better. It merely highlights the moral corruption of Rats like Dean who opposed this war in the first place.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I think this was posted earlier but from the Post instead of the Philly paper. Not positive but I'm sure I read this earlier.

[Howlin]

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[bdeaner]

I did a search for the headline, but didn't see it; so if it was posted twice, it must have had a different headline.

[bdeaner]

Oops. My mistake.

[Cicero]

As Howlin points out, even though this isn't directly from the Washington Post, it's a column from one of their writers which originally appeared there. So it MUST NOT be posted in full. I know this can be confusing, but note the comment after Will's by-line.

[Cicero]

I see my added comment wasn't necessary; sorry.

I think Will is on the money with this column. Iraq is the best venue to try Saddam. They are the most familiar with his crimes, and they will put on a good show trial.

But first, we give him some time to talk.

[annyokie]

It was an article about Terry Moran saying the Nazis had been "railroaded" at Nuremburg.

[bdeaner]

I see my added comment wasn't necessary; sorry.

No problem. Now I know to watch out for the subsidiaries. I'm used to the Post being automatically excerpted.

I think Will is on the money with this column. Iraq is the best venue to try Saddam. They are the most familiar with his crimes, and they will put on a good show trial.

I completely agree. I can hardly think of a reason for a different location. What, if any, are the road blocks to assuring he gets tried by his own people? (After he talks).

[Mr. Buzzcut]

What, if any, are the road blocks to assuring he gets tried by his own people?

Just the usual internationalist cretins (Wesley Clark!) at home and abroad.

[lilylangtree]

Heard on the news this a.m. that the International Red Cross wants permission to check on Saddam to make sure he's being treated in an acceptable manner.

[Drango]

Heard on the news this a.m. that the International Red Cross wants permission to check on Saddam to make sure he's being treated in an acceptable manner.

Good. 'Cause someday there will be a lonely American GI prisoner of war who will welcome the attempts of the Red Cross to see him.

[bdeaner]

Heard on the news this a.m. that the International Red Cross wants permission to check on Saddam to make sure he's being treated in an acceptable manner.

Oh, please. Given what he did to his own people, and from the pespective of retributive justice, it would be "acceptable" to torture the guy, rape him, and leave him for dead in a mass grave without a fair trial.

[Sonny M]

Good. 'Cause someday there will be a lonely American GI prisoner of war who will welcome the attempts of the Red Cross to see him.

I'm not positive about this, but I was told that the last time american pow's were seen by the red cross or any other neutral organization to be checked upon, was world war 2 under the nazi's and that since then, no american enemy has ever allowed proper access to american pow's.

I do not know if that is a fact or not, but if its the case, and thats a big big IF, why do we follow these rules with the red cross if no enemy of ours will. Its pretty clear if you look at possible future conflicts that those hostile nations most certainly will not follow geneva conventions nor allow the red cross any access.

[jim35]

It just cracks me up to hear people espousing the fear that unless we treat terrorists under the Geneva Convention rules, then our soldiers will be mistreated. Our soldiers are always mistreated, and nothing we do to placate or appease our enemies is going to change that. Nothing.

[hershey]

The Red Cross should be permitted to see Saddam after they get to see our missing pilot, Stephen Speicher.