Les Jones: Saddam Hussein's Path to Justice Begins

June 29, 2004

News > Saddam Hussein's Path to Justice Begins

The U.S. will transfer legal custody of Saddam Hussein to the new Iraqi government on Wednesday. This is the beginning of Saddam's legal ordeal, with months or years of courtroom testimony to follow.

For the people opposing the war in Iraq, this is the time they've either neglected or willfully ignored. Once the extent of Saddam's crimes are known, it's going to be impossibe to see the war in Iraq as a "phony war." There's an outrageous amount of evidence - eyewitness testimony of both oppresors and victims, videotape, paper records, and mass graves.

When Saddam was captured there were questions as to where and by whom he should be tried. I always knew we'd give him to the Iraqis, where he could face justice from those he injured. If we did anything else, we would invalidate our right to try Osama bin Laden should he be found alive. (But for the record, I think he's dead. If you disagree all I ask for is a post-Tora Bora videotape of OBL.)

Posted by lesjones

Comments

I think it's may be just as likely that we have OBL as that he's dead.

Wonder what Saddam's thinking these last couple of days? Is he afraid? Vengeful? Resolute? Who knows...

Posted by: Barry at June 30, 2004

Interesting theory. I'd be amazed if it were true.

I don't think Saddam is going to show the bravado of someone like Slobodan Milosevic (too lazy to check my spelling). He was solidly beaten, lived on the lam, and wound up captured alone in a hole. That would seem to get rid of any delusions of grandeur.

Posted by: Les Jones at June 30, 2004

I remember reading reports that he was boasting to the guards that he was still in charge of Iraq, etc. I think he's probably just lost it.

What if he walked by reason of insanity? ;)

No, that wouldn't work - everybody over there is insane....

Posted by: Barry at June 30, 2004

Barry, it looks like you called it right:

"I am Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq," Saddam said, according to the CNN reporter.
In his first public appearance since he was captured seven months ago, Saddam refused to sign a list of charges against him and questioned the court's jurisdiction, according to a CNN reporter who was in the courtroom as part of a pool arrangement. He defended the invasion of Kuwait, saying Saddam said he invaded Kuwait "for the Iraqi people."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040701/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saddam&cid=540&ncid=716

Posted by: Les Jones at July 01, 2004

I alone have my finger on the pulse of the Middle East...

Posted by: Barry at July 02, 2004

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