Second Trial

The second trial of Saddam Hussein will begin on August 21. In this one he will face charges relating to the campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s.

The Iraqi High Tribunal charged Saddam with genocide in April, after investigative judge Ra'id Juhi announced investigators had completed their work gathering witnesses and evidence and were ready to go to trial.

The campaign included the gassing of 5,000 civilians in the village of Halabja in 1988, this will be prosecuted separately.

The total mortality rate is estimated at between 50,000 to 200,000.

The question is, given the ongoing killings of various members of the defence team and instability in Iraq will there be anyone left to conduct the trial?

Saddam Delusional

It seems that Saddam Hussein has become delusional, that at least is the only conclusion that one can draw from the interview that Khalil al-Dulaimi (the head of Saddam's defence team) gave the other day.

In the interview, Khalil al-Dulaimi said that Saddam is the key to returning stability to Iraq.

Quote:

"He's their last resort. They're going to knock at his door eventually.

Saddam is the only person who can stop the resistance against the US troops."

Seemingly Saddam raised the topic during a meeting, and indicated that he would be willing to help the US "for the sake of saving both peoples - the Iraqis and Americans."

I believe that the Americans will only consider that offer when, how does the phrase go?

"Hell freezes over!"

Saddam Ends Hunger Strike

Less than 24 hours after starting their hunger strike in protest at the murder of one of their lawyers, Saddam Hussein and his entourage have ended it.

They stopped their strike Thursday evening, just hours after they had announced it.

Another piece of pointless grandstanding.