Tony Blair and US President George Bush have said they will take a "new approach" to the war in Iraq in a joint press conference designed to show they still stand together on the issue.
The two leaders used the press conference to respond to the Iraq Study Group's blunt assessment of US failings and their vision of future policy.
"I believe we need a new approach," President Bush said one day after the scathing report was published.
Source ITV.
The trouble is, does anyone really believe that Bush is capable of changing his mind, or his approach, when it comes to Iraq?
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Security Scare
The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed after a two hour delay today, as a result of a security scare.
A sniffer dog detected something at a security gate in the Green Zone, where the Saddam trial is being held.
The incident prevented the defence team from reaching the court on time.
A sniffer dog detected something at a security gate in the Green Zone, where the Saddam trial is being held.
The incident prevented the defence team from reaching the court on time.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
US Losing in Iraq
To view an excellent report on the testimony of Robert Gates before the Senate Armed Services Committee, visit US Losing.
The New Comedy
Saddam Hussein is back in court today, despite writing to the chief judge saying that he no longer wants to go to court.
Saddam's lawyers issued a handwritten statement yesterday, in which Saddam claimed that he had been repeatedly insulted by Judge al-Khalifa and the prosecutors.
Quote:
"Therefore, I ask to be relieved of attending the hearings in this new comedy and you can do whatever you want."
It is not clear as to why he changed his mind.
Chief judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, called a prosecution witness to the stand, reversing his Monday decision that the court would not hear more witnesses but instead review the evidence.
The farce continues.
Saddam's lawyers issued a handwritten statement yesterday, in which Saddam claimed that he had been repeatedly insulted by Judge al-Khalifa and the prosecutors.
Quote:
"Therefore, I ask to be relieved of attending the hearings in this new comedy and you can do whatever you want."
It is not clear as to why he changed his mind.
Chief judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, called a prosecution witness to the stand, reversing his Monday decision that the court would not hear more witnesses but instead review the evidence.
The farce continues.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Life Better Under Saddam
Outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has put the cat amongst the pigeons, by claiming that many Iraqis feel that life is even worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein.
During interview about Iraq with the BBC, Annan said:
"Given the level of violence, the level of killing and bitterness and the way that forces are arranged against each other, a few years ago, when we had the strife in Lebanon and other places, we called that a civil war; this is much worse."
Annan also said that many Iraqis must believe that life is even worse now, than it was under Saddam.
Quote:
"If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home without a mother or father worrying, 'Am I going to see my child again?"
Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, rejected the comments. His office said:
"Describing what is taking place in Iraq as a civil war beautifies the former regime which is known for its crimes against humanity."
During interview about Iraq with the BBC, Annan said:
"Given the level of violence, the level of killing and bitterness and the way that forces are arranged against each other, a few years ago, when we had the strife in Lebanon and other places, we called that a civil war; this is much worse."
Annan also said that many Iraqis must believe that life is even worse now, than it was under Saddam.
Quote:
"If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home without a mother or father worrying, 'Am I going to see my child again?"
Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, rejected the comments. His office said:
"Describing what is taking place in Iraq as a civil war beautifies the former regime which is known for its crimes against humanity."
Testimony Continues
The court holding the current trial of Saddam Hussein for killing 180,000 Kurds in 1988, heard testimony on Monday from a Kurdish witness who spoke about the shelling of his villages with chemical weapons.
The witness, a supervisor in the education ministry in Kurdistan, said that his mother, wife and daughters were killed in front of him.
He said that he lost 25 members of his family, who were living in houses close to each other in a village in Kurdistan.
Justice Mohammad Oraibi adjourned the session until Wednesday.
The witness, a supervisor in the education ministry in Kurdistan, said that his mother, wife and daughters were killed in front of him.
He said that he lost 25 members of his family, who were living in houses close to each other in a village in Kurdistan.
Justice Mohammad Oraibi adjourned the session until Wednesday.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Saddam Appeals Death Sentence
Lawyers for Saddam Hussein yesterday formally appealed against his death sentence.
Saddam and two other senior members of his regime have been sentenced to hang for the killing of 148 Shiite Muslims, in retaliation for a 1982 attempt on his life in the town of Dujayl.
Under Iraqi law, a nine judge appellate panel automatically reviews all death sentences. However, the defence must submit detailed arguments within 30 days of sentence. In the event that the sentence is upheld, it must be carried out within 30 days.
The panel has no time limit to review the verdicts and sentences.
Saddam and two other senior members of his regime have been sentenced to hang for the killing of 148 Shiite Muslims, in retaliation for a 1982 attempt on his life in the town of Dujayl.
Under Iraqi law, a nine judge appellate panel automatically reviews all death sentences. However, the defence must submit detailed arguments within 30 days of sentence. In the event that the sentence is upheld, it must be carried out within 30 days.
The panel has no time limit to review the verdicts and sentences.
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