Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has indicated that he would not object to moving the trial of Saddam Hussein from Baghdad to southern Iraq, or his northern Kurdish region, if the judges sought such a change on security grounds.
That is according to Talabani's secretary, Hewah Othman.
However, any transfer is dependent on parliamentary approval.
How sad an indictment on the security situation in Iraq, and the state of that sad country, is that?
Mission accomplished?????
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Spreading The Guilt
Whilst Saddam Hussein stands trial, it is worth remembering that others had hand in keeping him in power.
Today it is reported that the German/American carmaker DaimlerChrysler has suspended at least six managers over allegations that they had bribed officials to obtain import licences for Iraq, under the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme.
The managers belonged to DaimlerChrysler Overseas. The suspension follows an investigation by the UN and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into the company.
Paul Volcker, the former US Federal Reserve Chairman, issued a report last year that alleged that companies, including Daimler, had made illicit payments to Saddam Hussein's regime.
The allegations relate to the sale of Mercedes vehicles, and spare parts to Iraq under the Oil-for-Food programme.
According to the Volcker report, Wolfgang Denk, an area manager at Daimler, agreed in 2001 to pay a DM13,000 kickback on a contract to sell an armoured van and submitted an inflated contract price to the UN.
Both Herr Denk, and Daimler told the Volcker committee that it did not knowingly pay a kickback.
The company said last year that it had identified suspect payments.
The investigations by the SEC and the US Department of Justice began in 2004, after a former employee filed a complaint. The employee, whom Daimler said had been dismissed for falsifying financial data, alleged that the company had kept secret bank accounts to bribe foreign officials.
Daimler has dismissed the accusation.
Let us see what comes of this.
Today it is reported that the German/American carmaker DaimlerChrysler has suspended at least six managers over allegations that they had bribed officials to obtain import licences for Iraq, under the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme.
The managers belonged to DaimlerChrysler Overseas. The suspension follows an investigation by the UN and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into the company.
Paul Volcker, the former US Federal Reserve Chairman, issued a report last year that alleged that companies, including Daimler, had made illicit payments to Saddam Hussein's regime.
The allegations relate to the sale of Mercedes vehicles, and spare parts to Iraq under the Oil-for-Food programme.
According to the Volcker report, Wolfgang Denk, an area manager at Daimler, agreed in 2001 to pay a DM13,000 kickback on a contract to sell an armoured van and submitted an inflated contract price to the UN.
Both Herr Denk, and Daimler told the Volcker committee that it did not knowingly pay a kickback.
The company said last year that it had identified suspect payments.
The investigations by the SEC and the US Department of Justice began in 2004, after a former employee filed a complaint. The employee, whom Daimler said had been dismissed for falsifying financial data, alleged that the company had kept secret bank accounts to bribe foreign officials.
Daimler has dismissed the accusation.
Let us see what comes of this.
New Judge Takes Over
A new judge has taken over responsibility for the trial of Saddam Hussein.
Judge Rizgar Amin, who was in charge of the trial, resigned last week after complaining of interference; he has refused to attend the next hearing on January 24.
His deputy on the five-member bench, Sayeed al-Hamashi, will preside instead.
A permanent replacement will be appointed in due course, if Amin stays away.
Iraqi media have criticised Amin for allowing Saddam, and his co-defendants, to speak at length during the trial; and for allowing the trial to descend into farce.
We shall see if the replacement does nay better!
Judge Rizgar Amin, who was in charge of the trial, resigned last week after complaining of interference; he has refused to attend the next hearing on January 24.
His deputy on the five-member bench, Sayeed al-Hamashi, will preside instead.
A permanent replacement will be appointed in due course, if Amin stays away.
Iraqi media have criticised Amin for allowing Saddam, and his co-defendants, to speak at length during the trial; and for allowing the trial to descend into farce.
We shall see if the replacement does nay better!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Kickbacks
AWB Ltd, Australia's monopoly wheat exporter, knowingly provided hundreds of millions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime and deceived the United Nations about the payments under the oil-for-food program.
That is according to evidence presented by John Agius, a lawyer, to the Australian government's investigation into the activities of AWB.
Agius said that he would present evidence that would show that AWB's most senior executives knew they had paid close to 300 million Aus, for nonexistent trucking services that were channeled directly to Saddam's government.
He also stated that he would be presented that AWB "was prepared to deceive the UN as to the true nature of its contractual arrangement with the IGB (Iraq Grain Board)".
That is according to evidence presented by John Agius, a lawyer, to the Australian government's investigation into the activities of AWB.
Agius said that he would present evidence that would show that AWB's most senior executives knew they had paid close to 300 million Aus, for nonexistent trucking services that were channeled directly to Saddam's government.
He also stated that he would be presented that AWB "was prepared to deceive the UN as to the true nature of its contractual arrangement with the IGB (Iraq Grain Board)".
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Trial Judge Resigns
Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, the chief judge presiding over the trial of Saddam Hussein, has submitted his resignation.
He claims that he was fed up with the public criticism, for the way he was handling the courtroom.
Rumours had been circulating for a while that Amin was about to quit. However, it was only confirmed by Hussein Mussawi, another judge involved with the case.
Quote:
"This is true. The reason is, there is a lot of pressure on the judge."
Amin had been criticised for allowing Saddam to dominate the increasingly farcical court proceedings.
Mussawi has insisted that the pressure on Amin was not political; he rejected suggestions that Ibrahim Jafari, Iraq's prime minister and a Shiite, was trying to force him out or influence the handling of the case.
However, a source close to Amin is quoted by Reuters as saying:
"The whole court is under political pressure. He had complaints from the government that he was being too soft in dealing with Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants. They want things to go faster."
It seems that people are trying to persuade Amin to reconsider his decision. An unnamed Western diplomat is quoted as saying:
"We certainly hope and expect that the trial will continue without delay. This is not the first time this issue has come up, and it's important to hear from the judge himself or the Ministry of Information."
Mussawi also said:
"I think he will go back on his decision. A lot of people are talking to him to try to change his mind.".
For justice to be seen to be done, the trial must remain free of poltical influence. The resignation has higlighted the pressure that is being exerted to ensure a speedy verdict that pleases those now in control of Iraq.
Saddam Hussein's trial is scheduled to resume on January 24.
He claims that he was fed up with the public criticism, for the way he was handling the courtroom.
Rumours had been circulating for a while that Amin was about to quit. However, it was only confirmed by Hussein Mussawi, another judge involved with the case.
Quote:
"This is true. The reason is, there is a lot of pressure on the judge."
Amin had been criticised for allowing Saddam to dominate the increasingly farcical court proceedings.
Mussawi has insisted that the pressure on Amin was not political; he rejected suggestions that Ibrahim Jafari, Iraq's prime minister and a Shiite, was trying to force him out or influence the handling of the case.
However, a source close to Amin is quoted by Reuters as saying:
"The whole court is under political pressure. He had complaints from the government that he was being too soft in dealing with Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants. They want things to go faster."
It seems that people are trying to persuade Amin to reconsider his decision. An unnamed Western diplomat is quoted as saying:
"We certainly hope and expect that the trial will continue without delay. This is not the first time this issue has come up, and it's important to hear from the judge himself or the Ministry of Information."
Mussawi also said:
"I think he will go back on his decision. A lot of people are talking to him to try to change his mind.".
For justice to be seen to be done, the trial must remain free of poltical influence. The resignation has higlighted the pressure that is being exerted to ensure a speedy verdict that pleases those now in control of Iraq.
Saddam Hussein's trial is scheduled to resume on January 24.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Aziz Dying
Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's trusted number two, may have only "weeks to live".
Aziz has a blood clot on the brain, a common cause of stroke.
His lawyer, Badia Aref, said:
"He cannot walk properly. His situation is very bad.
He is being given 13 pills a day for blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses to prevent strokes. If you look at him you would say that he has only a few weeks to live."
He kept on repeating one thing, 'I want to see my family, I want to see my children'."
Aziz surrendered to US forces in April 2003 and is in jail. He has been quizzed by the tribunal trying Saddam for war crimes.
Prosecutors had hoped to persuade Aziz to testify against Saddam, in return for freedom for him and his family in Europe.
Aziz has a blood clot on the brain, a common cause of stroke.
His lawyer, Badia Aref, said:
"He cannot walk properly. His situation is very bad.
He is being given 13 pills a day for blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses to prevent strokes. If you look at him you would say that he has only a few weeks to live."
He kept on repeating one thing, 'I want to see my family, I want to see my children'."
Aziz surrendered to US forces in April 2003 and is in jail. He has been quizzed by the tribunal trying Saddam for war crimes.
Prosecutors had hoped to persuade Aziz to testify against Saddam, in return for freedom for him and his family in Europe.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Terror Training Camps
It is reported that Saddam Hussein trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists at camps in Iraq, over the four years immediately preceding the U.S. invasion.
That is based on documents and photographs recovered by the U.S. military in postwar Iraq.
The secret training allegedly took place primarily at camps in Samarra, Ramadi, and Salman Pak.
It is estimated that around 8000 terrorists were trained during this period. Some of these returned to Iraq, and are now responsible for the daily carnage that takes place in that most unhappy country.
The photographs and documents on Iraqi training camps come from a collection of some 2 million "exploitable items", captured in postwar Iraq and Afghanistan. So far only 50000 (2.5%) have been examined.
That is based on documents and photographs recovered by the U.S. military in postwar Iraq.
The secret training allegedly took place primarily at camps in Samarra, Ramadi, and Salman Pak.
It is estimated that around 8000 terrorists were trained during this period. Some of these returned to Iraq, and are now responsible for the daily carnage that takes place in that most unhappy country.
The photographs and documents on Iraqi training camps come from a collection of some 2 million "exploitable items", captured in postwar Iraq and Afghanistan. So far only 50000 (2.5%) have been examined.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Family Split?
Saddam Hussein's lawyers have claimed that American officials have been trying to turn Barazan Ibrahim, Saddam's half-brother, against him.
Saddam's lawyers calim that Ibrahim told the Higher Iraqi Tribunal that the U.S. offered him a high government position in Iraq, if he testified against Saddam.
The lawyers say Ibrahim rejected the deal.
Saddam's chief lawyer says Ibrahim told the court America offered him "a senior political post in return for testifying against the president."
Ibrahim is also on trial for war crimes.
Saddam's lawyers calim that Ibrahim told the Higher Iraqi Tribunal that the U.S. offered him a high government position in Iraq, if he testified against Saddam.
The lawyers say Ibrahim rejected the deal.
Saddam's chief lawyer says Ibrahim told the court America offered him "a senior political post in return for testifying against the president."
Ibrahim is also on trial for war crimes.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Calls For Impeachment of Blair
General Sir Michael Rose, a former UN commander in Bosnia, is quoted as saying:
"I think the politicians should be held to account ... my view is that Blair should be impeached.
That would prevent the politicians treating quite so carelessly the subject of taking a country into war."
He noted that a high-profile resignation of a senior armed forces officer, before the start of the March 2003 conflict, may also have made the British Government think twice before sending troops to the Gulf.
Quote:
"I would not have gone to war on such flimsy grounds".
The comments will be aired on British TV's Channel 4 this Friday.
Martin Bell, BBC television's former war correspondent made the film - Iraq: The Failure of War.
Bell is quoted as saying:
"Ordering the armed forces to war is the most serious decision any government takes. On Iraq it was taken with a degree of nonchalance bordering on negligence."
The failure in Iraq has not been so much the policy of pro-active regime change, but the lack of planning and effective reconstruction in the aftermath of the regime change.
"I think the politicians should be held to account ... my view is that Blair should be impeached.
That would prevent the politicians treating quite so carelessly the subject of taking a country into war."
He noted that a high-profile resignation of a senior armed forces officer, before the start of the March 2003 conflict, may also have made the British Government think twice before sending troops to the Gulf.
Quote:
"I would not have gone to war on such flimsy grounds".
The comments will be aired on British TV's Channel 4 this Friday.
Martin Bell, BBC television's former war correspondent made the film - Iraq: The Failure of War.
Bell is quoted as saying:
"Ordering the armed forces to war is the most serious decision any government takes. On Iraq it was taken with a degree of nonchalance bordering on negligence."
The failure in Iraq has not been so much the policy of pro-active regime change, but the lack of planning and effective reconstruction in the aftermath of the regime change.
Death By Firing Squad
Saddam Hussein has made it known, via his lawyer, that he prefers to be shot by a firing squad instead of being hanged if sentenced to death by the court trying him for war crimes.
Issam Ghazzawi said that Saddam told him and Ramsey Clark:
"Threatening me with death doesn't mean anything. I don't care less. The life of any one Iraqi is no less valuable than mine. I am the commander-in-chief. I prefer it to be by firing squad.
I'm not afraid of death. Of course I'm not guilty, but I know they want me dead."
He then went on to add:
"I'm fighting against US tyranny on behalf of Iraqis, Arabs, all the people of the world. The US will not be able to formulate a new world. They tried in Iraq and failed badly, so by standing against President George W Bush we are protecting other countries and regions of the world. Now the US will think a thousand times before daring to attack another country."
I wonder now if it wouldn't have been better if Saddam had been shot, "resisting arrest", when he was captured?
Views anyone?
Issam Ghazzawi said that Saddam told him and Ramsey Clark:
"Threatening me with death doesn't mean anything. I don't care less. The life of any one Iraqi is no less valuable than mine. I am the commander-in-chief. I prefer it to be by firing squad.
I'm not afraid of death. Of course I'm not guilty, but I know they want me dead."
He then went on to add:
"I'm fighting against US tyranny on behalf of Iraqis, Arabs, all the people of the world. The US will not be able to formulate a new world. They tried in Iraq and failed badly, so by standing against President George W Bush we are protecting other countries and regions of the world. Now the US will think a thousand times before daring to attack another country."
I wonder now if it wouldn't have been better if Saddam had been shot, "resisting arrest", when he was captured?
Views anyone?
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