The Trial of Saddam Hussein and The Fallout of The War

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

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The fallout in the Middle East from the regime change in Iraq

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Saddam's Uniform For Sale

Those of you with a penchant for collecting uniforms and military memorabilia, may find one of the items for sale at Manion's International Auction House to be of interest.

It is a dress uniform owned by Saddam Hussein.

The uniform will be placed in the company's "gold auction".

John Conway, a representative for Manion's Auction, said:

"This is the second Hussein uniform we have presented for auction since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first was brought back by an Army NCO and sold for $24K."

The uniform was obtained by an army sergeant, during the first night that US troops gained control of Baghdad International Airport. The uniform was taken from a tailor shop, and was among many suits and outfits designed for Hussein.

The company will donate a percentage of the commission from this uniform to a charitable concern.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Court TV

Court TV will offer an online coverage of Saddam Hussein's trial when it resumes next Monday.

It is scheduled to air from roughly 0900 to 1400 GMT, with on-demand highlight clips also available.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Genocide Trial

Frans van Anraat, a Dutchman, will go on trial on Monday on charges of complicity in genocide.

He is accused of supplying the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein with chemicals used in attacks on Kurdish villages in the 1980s.

He claims that the supplies were legitimate business deals.

It is alleged that the gas was used in attacks on the villages of Halabja, Goptata, Birjinni and Zewa. The Dutch prosecutors claim that these attacks were intended to wipe out the ethnic Kurdish population, in whole or in part, and constitute genocide.

A verdict is expected in late December.

Van Anraat once topped the CIA's most wanted list, and was detained at the request of the US in Italy in 1989. He was released by an Italian judge who ruled the charges were politically motivated.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Saddam Assault Denied

The claim that Saddam Hussein was punched several times, by court officials, after he cursed two Shi'ite Islam saints has been denied by the court officials.

The chief prosecutor, Jaafar al-Mousawi, is quoted as saying:

"No one in the court attacked Saddam or punished him, and we will never allow anyone in the court to harm any of the defendants, whether it is Saddam or someone else..."

Saddam's lawyers have yet to comment on this counterclaim.