The trial of Saddam's former Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, and his seven co defendants resumed yesterday in Baghdad.
They are on trial for their alleged roles in the execution of 42 merchants in 1992.
Aziz appeared or himself, without legal representation, as his lawyers have not been granted visas.
Aziz told the court that the trial was based on personal revenge:
"Focusing on the membership of the Revolutionary Command Council means revenge. I know it is a personal revenge."
A guilty verdict carries the death penalty.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Aziz Due To Appear
Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi deputy prime minister, is set to appear before the Iraqi High Tribunal tomorrow without the new legal team that he demanded three weeks ago.
Aziz faces charges linked to the execution of 42 Baghdad merchants in 1992.
He may now have to seek a new court date, or represent himself on Tuesday.
His son, Ziad Aziz, who is based in Amman has told the media that French lawyer Jacques Verges, four Italian lawyers and a French-Lebanese attorney will be unable to attend Tuesday's hearing in Baghdad because they have not received their visas.
Aziz faces charges linked to the execution of 42 Baghdad merchants in 1992.
He may now have to seek a new court date, or represent himself on Tuesday.
His son, Ziad Aziz, who is based in Amman has told the media that French lawyer Jacques Verges, four Italian lawyers and a French-Lebanese attorney will be unable to attend Tuesday's hearing in Baghdad because they have not received their visas.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Negligence
Retired judge Arthur Brennan, a former senior US official in Iraq, has accused the State Department of misleading Americans over the true situation in Iraq.
Judge Brennan also alleged that poor performance by the department had led to the loss of billions of dollars, and warned that some of the money could be funding outlaws and insurgents, including the Mehdi Army.
Brennan made his allegations during testimony at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Monday.
Quote:
"The actual policies and performance of the State Department in Iraq were not what they are represented to be.
The Department of State has negligently, recklessly and sometimes intentionally misled the US Congress, the American people and the people of Iraq.
In a sense, the Department of State has contributed to the killing and maiming of US soldiers, the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians; the bolstering of illegal militias, insurgents and Al-Qaeda.
Billions of US and Iraqi dollars have been lost, stolen and wasted, it is likely that some of that money is financing outlaws and insurgents such as the Medhi Army."
James Mattil, chief of staff for the Office of Accountability and Transparency in Baghdad between October 2006 and October 2007, accused the Administration of failing to demand meaningful action from the Iraqi government on fighting corruption.
"It seems reasonable to conclude that the reasons are either, gross incompetence, willful negligence or political intent on the part of the Bush administration and more specifically, the Department of State."
Doubtless history will ultimately judge just how badly thought through and executed the decision to invade and occupy Iraq really was.
Unfortunately by the time that happens, many more people will have died a lot more money will have been wasted and those responsible for the decision and execution will have long since retired and/or died.
Judge Brennan also alleged that poor performance by the department had led to the loss of billions of dollars, and warned that some of the money could be funding outlaws and insurgents, including the Mehdi Army.
Brennan made his allegations during testimony at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Monday.
Quote:
"The actual policies and performance of the State Department in Iraq were not what they are represented to be.
The Department of State has negligently, recklessly and sometimes intentionally misled the US Congress, the American people and the people of Iraq.
In a sense, the Department of State has contributed to the killing and maiming of US soldiers, the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians; the bolstering of illegal militias, insurgents and Al-Qaeda.
Billions of US and Iraqi dollars have been lost, stolen and wasted, it is likely that some of that money is financing outlaws and insurgents such as the Medhi Army."
James Mattil, chief of staff for the Office of Accountability and Transparency in Baghdad between October 2006 and October 2007, accused the Administration of failing to demand meaningful action from the Iraqi government on fighting corruption.
"It seems reasonable to conclude that the reasons are either, gross incompetence, willful negligence or political intent on the part of the Bush administration and more specifically, the Department of State."
Doubtless history will ultimately judge just how badly thought through and executed the decision to invade and occupy Iraq really was.
Unfortunately by the time that happens, many more people will have died a lot more money will have been wasted and those responsible for the decision and execution will have long since retired and/or died.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The Cost of The Occupation
Aside from the ongoing loss of civilian and military lives, the continuing occupation of Iraq is also having a devastating impact on the finances of the USA.
According to congressional analysts, the eventual total cost of the Iraq war and the occupation could be as high as $ 1.5 trillion (that's TRILLION not BILLION!).
This cost does not include the cost of rebuilding Iraq's shattered infrastructure.
The occupation phase of the Iraq war is costing the United States $1,538 a second, or $92,333 a minute, or $5,540,000 an hour.
Despite that, McCain (were he to become president) wants to keep troops there for up to 100 years.
How does he intend to pay for this?
According to congressional analysts, the eventual total cost of the Iraq war and the occupation could be as high as $ 1.5 trillion (that's TRILLION not BILLION!).
This cost does not include the cost of rebuilding Iraq's shattered infrastructure.
The occupation phase of the Iraq war is costing the United States $1,538 a second, or $92,333 a minute, or $5,540,000 an hour.
Despite that, McCain (were he to become president) wants to keep troops there for up to 100 years.
How does he intend to pay for this?
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Saddam Feared AIDS
Diary extracts published by Al-Hayat indicate that Saddam Hussein feared catching Aids and other STDs, whilst he was in jail.
Seemingly the US guards were using Saddam's washing line to dry clothes, and he demanded that they stop.
Saddam is quoted from his diary:
"I explained to them that they are young and they could have young people's diseases.
My main concern was to not catch a venereal disease, an HIV disease, in this place."
Given the circumstances, that should have been the least of his concerns.
Seemingly the US guards were using Saddam's washing line to dry clothes, and he demanded that they stop.
Saddam is quoted from his diary:
"I explained to them that they are young and they could have young people's diseases.
My main concern was to not catch a venereal disease, an HIV disease, in this place."
Given the circumstances, that should have been the least of his concerns.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Aziz Trial Begins
The trial of Tariq Aziz began in Baghdad Tuesday. The former Iraqi deputy prime minister is charged with executing 42 merchants who were accused of breaking state price controls in 1992.
He has been held in jail for the last 5 years, awaiting trial.
The trial was adjourned until 20th May.
He has been held in jail for the last 5 years, awaiting trial.
The trial was adjourned until 20th May.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Waste
Aside from the appalling waste of lives that the failed Iraq intervention has caused, there has also been a significant waste of money.
An audit performed by The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), of US funded reconstruction projects, has found that millions of dollars have been wasted because many schemes have never been completed.
SIGIR highlights delays, costs, poor performance and violence for failure to finish some 855 projects.
It also noted that many other projects (in the audit of 47,321 projects) had been falsely described as complete.
The financial cost to the US taxpayers currently exceeds $100BN.
How long will the American people tolerate being ripped off in this manner by their own government, and corrupt construction companies?
An audit performed by The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), of US funded reconstruction projects, has found that millions of dollars have been wasted because many schemes have never been completed.
SIGIR highlights delays, costs, poor performance and violence for failure to finish some 855 projects.
It also noted that many other projects (in the audit of 47,321 projects) had been falsely described as complete.
The financial cost to the US taxpayers currently exceeds $100BN.
How long will the American people tolerate being ripped off in this manner by their own government, and corrupt construction companies?
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Another Trial
The fourth trial of figures from Saddam Hussein's regime will begin next week, when former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz and six others face charges relating to the execution of 42 merchants in 1992.
Aziz will stand trial with, amongst others, Saddam's half brother Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and former Central Bank chief Issam Mula Hawish.
The trial is scheduled to start Tuesday, and deals with the execution of 42 merchants accused by Saddam's government of being behind a sharp increase in food prices when the country was under sanctions.
Aziz will stand trial with, amongst others, Saddam's half brother Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and former Central Bank chief Issam Mula Hawish.
The trial is scheduled to start Tuesday, and deals with the execution of 42 merchants accused by Saddam's government of being behind a sharp increase in food prices when the country was under sanctions.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Windfall
The Iraqi government has won a ruling to recover money from Saddam Hussein's Swiss bank account.
Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has ordered the freezing of US$300M, which was deposited into a Swiss bank account by Khalaf al-Dlimi, Saddam's personal lawyer.
Switzerland will transfer the frozen money, which is legally the property of Iraq, to the Development Fund of Iraq by June 13th.
Dlimi has the right to file an objection to the court ruling with the sanctions commission of the UN Security Council.
Let us hope that the money is used wisely by the government.
Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court has ordered the freezing of US$300M, which was deposited into a Swiss bank account by Khalaf al-Dlimi, Saddam's personal lawyer.
Switzerland will transfer the frozen money, which is legally the property of Iraq, to the Development Fund of Iraq by June 13th.
Dlimi has the right to file an objection to the court ruling with the sanctions commission of the UN Security Council.
Let us hope that the money is used wisely by the government.
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