Here is the text of a letter which Saddam Hussein allegedly sent to a Jordanian friend, via the International Committee of the Red Cross, on 16th August.
"My greetings to the Arab people of brotherly Jordan and to whoever asks about us in our dignified and glorified nation; my soul and my existence is to be sacrificed for our precious Palestine and our beloved, patient and suffering Iraq.
Life is meaningless without the considerations of faith, love and inherited history in our nation.
It is not much for a man to support his nation with his soul and all he commands because it deserves it since it has given us life in the name of God and allowed us to inherit the best.
My brother, love your people, love Palestine, love your nation, long live Palestine."
Monday, August 22, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Jobs For The Boys
It seems that whilst the fate of some of Saddam Hussein's former associates does not look too bright, others are doing reasonably well for themselves.
Sadoon al-Zubaydi, the favourite translator of Saddam Hussein who conveyed Saddam's words in hundreds of meetings, is now helping to write the new Iraqi constitution.
His work on the constitution is as a result of a government gesture to disaffected Sunni Muslims.
He is critical of the current occupation, saying:
"I believe that as long as we are under occupation, everything is in question," he said recently. (The political process) may be legitimate, it may be partly legitimate or it may be totally illegitimate, but it is in question."
Al-Zubaydi is a leader of the National Dialogue Council, a group jostling for leadership of the Sunni minority, and was elected at a conference as one of 10 permitted expert advisors.
He is critical of the way that Saddam is being held:
"He should not be treated like an animal in a zoo," .
Adding, as if attending a job interview:
"I have always been known as a true professional who attended to his job. I am an intellectual and a diplomat with a wealth of experience that should not be left aside."
It's a funny old world!
Sadoon al-Zubaydi, the favourite translator of Saddam Hussein who conveyed Saddam's words in hundreds of meetings, is now helping to write the new Iraqi constitution.
His work on the constitution is as a result of a government gesture to disaffected Sunni Muslims.
He is critical of the current occupation, saying:
"I believe that as long as we are under occupation, everything is in question," he said recently. (The political process) may be legitimate, it may be partly legitimate or it may be totally illegitimate, but it is in question."
Al-Zubaydi is a leader of the National Dialogue Council, a group jostling for leadership of the Sunni minority, and was elected at a conference as one of 10 permitted expert advisors.
He is critical of the way that Saddam is being held:
"He should not be treated like an animal in a zoo," .
Adding, as if attending a job interview:
"I have always been known as a true professional who attended to his job. I am an intellectual and a diplomat with a wealth of experience that should not be left aside."
It's a funny old world!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
An Ominous Sign
In an ominous sign for Saddam Hussein, the first executions in Iraq since the toppling of Saddam are due to be carried out in the next few days.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said:
"The president (Jalal Talabani) has signed three death sentences and the next few days will see the first executions in Kut,".
Three members of the Al-Qaeda-linked group Ansar al-Sunna were sentenced to death in May; this verdict was approved by the Supreme Council for Justice, the highest judicial authority in Iraq.
These are the first death sentences to be announced by Jaafari's government, since capital punishment was suspended by US authorities following the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
Amnesty International have condemned the death sentences.
Quote:
"We condemned the passing of death sentences in Iraq before 2003, and we also condemn them now,".
"In those cases the charges are so serious and the evidence so clear that quite a few people from the old regime (in Iraq) will probably face the death sentence,".
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said:
"The president (Jalal Talabani) has signed three death sentences and the next few days will see the first executions in Kut,".
Three members of the Al-Qaeda-linked group Ansar al-Sunna were sentenced to death in May; this verdict was approved by the Supreme Council for Justice, the highest judicial authority in Iraq.
These are the first death sentences to be announced by Jaafari's government, since capital punishment was suspended by US authorities following the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
Amnesty International have condemned the death sentences.
Quote:
"We condemned the passing of death sentences in Iraq before 2003, and we also condemn them now,".
"In those cases the charges are so serious and the evidence so clear that quite a few people from the old regime (in Iraq) will probably face the death sentence,".
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
New TV Show
A new TV show commissioned by Sky, called "Terrible Tastes of the Great Dictators", will look at Saddam Hussein's choice of decor.
The programme will feature a guided tour around his palaces, and will focus on his home furnishings including a gold-plated toilet with matching gold toilet brush.
The programme will also feature an interview with Saddam's interior designer, who was ordered to build him a palm tree made of crystal and to write a copy of the Koran in Saddam's blood.
The Sky One show will also feature the homes of Chairman Mao and Adolf Hitler.
The programme will feature a guided tour around his palaces, and will focus on his home furnishings including a gold-plated toilet with matching gold toilet brush.
The programme will also feature an interview with Saddam's interior designer, who was ordered to build him a palm tree made of crystal and to write a copy of the Koran in Saddam's blood.
The Sky One show will also feature the homes of Chairman Mao and Adolf Hitler.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Family Can't Fire Lawyers
The Iraqi tribunal, trying Saddam Hussein for war crimes, has blocked Saddam's family from firing his 2000 strong defence team.
The tribunal, not unreasonably, say that only Saddam can fire his lawyers.
Last week a lawyer acting for Saddam's eldest daughter, Raghd, said that the family had fired the team; and would build a better one.
The tribunal responded by letter, saying:
"We want to clarify some issues relating to the request to revoke all powers of attorney. We are very surprised by such unlawful acts. The exclusive right to empower any lawyer or to cancel any power of attorney is for defendant Saddam Hussein,".
Raghd wrote to the tribunal, pointing out that Saddam was not able to make such decisions freely himself.
Quote:
"The family of the president is free to choose whoever it wants to defend him and to remove whoever it wants for as long as he is denied freedom of choice,".
Maybe a statement from Saddam would clarify his wishes?
The tribunal, not unreasonably, say that only Saddam can fire his lawyers.
Last week a lawyer acting for Saddam's eldest daughter, Raghd, said that the family had fired the team; and would build a better one.
The tribunal responded by letter, saying:
"We want to clarify some issues relating to the request to revoke all powers of attorney. We are very surprised by such unlawful acts. The exclusive right to empower any lawyer or to cancel any power of attorney is for defendant Saddam Hussein,".
Raghd wrote to the tribunal, pointing out that Saddam was not able to make such decisions freely himself.
Quote:
"The family of the president is free to choose whoever it wants to defend him and to remove whoever it wants for as long as he is denied freedom of choice,".
Maybe a statement from Saddam would clarify his wishes?
Friday, August 12, 2005
Saddam Could Be Executed
An unnamed official involved in the forthcoming trial of Saddam Hussein has said that Saddam could be executed after his first trial, if he is convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged role in a 1982 Shiite massacre, even though he faces other charges.
The first trial involves Saddam's alleged role in the 1982 massacre of an estimated 150 Shiites in Dujail, north of Baghdad.
If Saddam is sentenced to death in the Dujail case authorities could "theoretically" carry out the sentence, without waiting for the other trials to begin.
The trial is expected to begin in the Autumn.
The first trial involves Saddam's alleged role in the 1982 massacre of an estimated 150 Shiites in Dujail, north of Baghdad.
If Saddam is sentenced to death in the Dujail case authorities could "theoretically" carry out the sentence, without waiting for the other trials to begin.
The trial is expected to begin in the Autumn.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Dispute Over Sacking
Following on from the earlier report about Saddam Hussein's family scaking his legal team, it seems that not everyone is prepared to take their dismissal lying down.
Emmanuel Ludot, a French lawyer who was part of the defence team, said that the sacking was contrary to Saddam's stated wishes.
Quote:
"The president himself expressed several times... his wish to keep a big committee around him, one that is as international as possible, to denounce the Americans' behaviour in his country,".
He went on to say that Saddam had made his position known during jail visits by his Iraqi lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi.
Ludot said he believed the decision was due to confusion in the family about lack of progress in the case, and the belief that "by limiting access to the dossier to a single lawyer, they will get a better hearing."
It was a "false analysis," he said.
Emmanuel Ludot, a French lawyer who was part of the defence team, said that the sacking was contrary to Saddam's stated wishes.
Quote:
"The president himself expressed several times... his wish to keep a big committee around him, one that is as international as possible, to denounce the Americans' behaviour in his country,".
He went on to say that Saddam had made his position known during jail visits by his Iraqi lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi.
Ludot said he believed the decision was due to confusion in the family about lack of progress in the case, and the belief that "by limiting access to the dossier to a single lawyer, they will get a better hearing."
It was a "false analysis," he said.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Tariq Aziz Not To Testify
Saddam Hussein's lieutenant, Tariq Aziz, will not testify against Saddam in any criminal trial according to his lawyer.
Aziz, who was Iraq's foreign minister and deputy foreign minister, issued a statement via his lawyer Badee Izzat Aref.
Quote:
"I will not betray my honor and my conscience and testify against Saddam Hussein,".
Aziz is in U.S. custody, and faces charges for his role in Saddam's regime.
Saddam's first trial is expected to begin within 45 to 50 days.
Aziz, who was Iraq's foreign minister and deputy foreign minister, issued a statement via his lawyer Badee Izzat Aref.
Quote:
"I will not betray my honor and my conscience and testify against Saddam Hussein,".
Aziz is in U.S. custody, and faces charges for his role in Saddam's regime.
Saddam's first trial is expected to begin within 45 to 50 days.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Saddam Sacks Lawyers
Saddam Hussein's family have dissolved his Jordan-based legal team, and have cancelled the power of attorney it had given to international lawyers.
Instead, Saddam's family have appointed Khalil Dulaimi as the "one and sole legal counsel."
Dulaimi has been part of the legal team for the past year, and has attended some of Saddam's initial court hearings in Baghdad.
The family is quoted as saying that they were "obliged to rearrange the legal defense campaign given the unique nature of the case,".
It seems that the family were upset by statements issued by various lawyers, and wanted only one legal voice to speak on Saddam's behalf.
However, Saddam's former chief lawyer Jordanian Ziad al-Khasawneh, who resigned on July 7, claimed that members of the legal team (ie the Americans) had criticised him for rebuking the American occupation of Iraq and declaring the resistance as "legitimate."
He went on to claim that the former U.S. attorney general, Ramsey Clark, had advised Raghad and other members of Saddam's family that such statements hurt Saddam's defense.
Saddam's legal team is quite sizeable, including 1,500 volunteers and at least 22 lead lawyers from several countries including; the United States, France, Jordan, Iraq and Libya.
Instead, Saddam's family have appointed Khalil Dulaimi as the "one and sole legal counsel."
Dulaimi has been part of the legal team for the past year, and has attended some of Saddam's initial court hearings in Baghdad.
The family is quoted as saying that they were "obliged to rearrange the legal defense campaign given the unique nature of the case,".
It seems that the family were upset by statements issued by various lawyers, and wanted only one legal voice to speak on Saddam's behalf.
However, Saddam's former chief lawyer Jordanian Ziad al-Khasawneh, who resigned on July 7, claimed that members of the legal team (ie the Americans) had criticised him for rebuking the American occupation of Iraq and declaring the resistance as "legitimate."
He went on to claim that the former U.S. attorney general, Ramsey Clark, had advised Raghad and other members of Saddam's family that such statements hurt Saddam's defense.
Saddam's legal team is quite sizeable, including 1,500 volunteers and at least 22 lead lawyers from several countries including; the United States, France, Jordan, Iraq and Libya.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Iraqi Government Sued for $1BN
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, an Italian bank, is suing the Iraqi government for $1BN.
The case, that is being heard in Fulton County Superior Court, is a bid to recover more than $1BN that the bank lent to Saddam Hussein's regime 15 years ago.
The loans originated in the Atlanta office of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, and were the centre of the "Iraqgate" scandal; in which critics blamed the first Bush administration with arming Saddam's government in the late 1980s.
Although the Bush administration was exonerated of any wrongdoing, many still speculate over how the bank lent the Iraqis the money without the knowledge of their superiors in Rome or any high-ranking American officials.
The Justice Department accused the manager of the bank's Atlanta office, Christopher Drogoul, of organising illicit loans and defrauding the bank and the US government. A federal grand jury indicted Drogoul in 1991, along with some of his subordinates, a government owned Iraqi bank and five Iraqi officials.
Drogoul subsequently "copped a plea", and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
The current case names as defendants the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Iraq, the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Iraq and the Central Bank of Iraq.
It seems a hell of a cheek to sue the current government of Iraq, who had no responsibility for loans granted to the previous administration.
The case, that is being heard in Fulton County Superior Court, is a bid to recover more than $1BN that the bank lent to Saddam Hussein's regime 15 years ago.
The loans originated in the Atlanta office of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, and were the centre of the "Iraqgate" scandal; in which critics blamed the first Bush administration with arming Saddam's government in the late 1980s.
Although the Bush administration was exonerated of any wrongdoing, many still speculate over how the bank lent the Iraqis the money without the knowledge of their superiors in Rome or any high-ranking American officials.
The Justice Department accused the manager of the bank's Atlanta office, Christopher Drogoul, of organising illicit loans and defrauding the bank and the US government. A federal grand jury indicted Drogoul in 1991, along with some of his subordinates, a government owned Iraqi bank and five Iraqi officials.
Drogoul subsequently "copped a plea", and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
The current case names as defendants the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Iraq, the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Iraq and the Central Bank of Iraq.
It seems a hell of a cheek to sue the current government of Iraq, who had no responsibility for loans granted to the previous administration.
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