Saddam "Graciously" Appears

Saddam Hussein graciously agreed to appear at his own trial today, despite the fact that he had been in hospital as a result of a 16 day hunger strike.

Needless to say he could not resist grandstanding, and complained that he had been brought to the court against his will. He then went on to reject the tribunal as an agent of the U.S. occupation.

Quote:

"The Americans insisted that I come against my will. This is not fair."

Saddam then went on to make a statement beginning with a verse from the Quran.

"If you were a real Iraqi, you would know that your country is going through extraordinary conditions.

We not only resist this occupation. We do not acknowledge it. We do not acknowledge all the decisions it has made, including appointing the so-called government and this court you represent."

Chief Judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman interrupted, and noted that Saddam was talking nonsense:

"You were not brought here against your will. Here's the medical report and it indicates that you are in good shape."

To which Saddam retorted:

"I didn't say I was ill, I was on a hunger strike."

Saddam then objected to having a court-appointed attorney deliver the final summation on his behalf. It should be noted that his regular defence team have boycotted the proceedings.

The judge was having none of that:

"Where are your lawyers?

They're staying outside in front of the TV screens and inciting violence. Those are lawyers? Having millions of dinars? Listen Saddam Hussein, your lawyers have millions of dinars and are inciting violence."

Saddam then decided to interrupt the lawyer:

"You are my enemy. Who appointed you?

I challenge you to read this on your own. He probably didn't even write this. The American agent, the spy probably wrote this for him."

Despite the delaying tactics, and the amateur theatricals, the wheels of justice continue to turn. The court is expected to adjourn following final summations for all of the eight defendants and then render a verdict, this is expected to be by mid-August.

Saddam No Show

The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed on Monday without the main man, who was in hospital being fed by drip (as a result of his 16 day hunger strike).

Saddam's defence team boycotted Monday's session, they are protesting about what they claim is the court's refusal to meet their demands for a fair trial.

The case is now in summation mode.

In the event that anyone is worried about Saddam, it seems that he will survive his self imposed hunger strike.

Saddam In Hospital

Saddam Hussein has been taken to hospital as a result of his hunger strike.

Hussein stopped eating on 7 July, in protest at the murder of his lawyer.

Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said:

"We took him to hospital and he is being currently fed by a tube."

Saddam had been due to appear in court today. However, Mr Moussawi said that he would be unable to attend.

Mr Moussawi then warned Saddam's lawyers that they would be committing an offence if they did not attend.

All sounds a bit too theatrical.

New Judge

Judge Aref Shahin has become the president of the Iraqi High Tribunal that is trying Saddam Hussein.

Shahin is replacing Jamal Mustapha, who died of cancer this month.

Shahin will also become the head of Iraq’s highest appeals court.

A second trial of Hussein and six co-defendants will begin on August 21.

No Show

The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned yesterday until July 24.

The proceedings have not been helped by the absence of Saddam's lawyers, who have boycotted the past two days of proceedings.

Presiding Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman has named substitute lawyers, and warned that they would make the defendants' final arguments if the original lawyers don't bother to show up.

Little Saddam

Iraq has released its "most wanted" list, within which is a certain Raghad Hussein (eldest daughter of Saddam Hussein).

Raghad is known to have the same "endearing" temperament as her father, ie she is irascible and not one to cross, and as such is known as "Little Saddam".

When her brothers, Uday and Qusay, were killed by US troops in July 2003, Raghad and her sister Rana left Syria to seek refuge in Jordan. Their mother and a third daughter Hala, whose husband is in prison, went to Qatar.

Raghad has taken charge of the defence of Saddam, hiring and firing lawyers.

A former member of Saddam's defence committee said, in a newspaper interview, that it would not be surprising if she were aiding Iraqi resistance.

Fair Trial

US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, one of Saddam Hussein's defence team, has spoken out about his fears for Saddam getting a fair trial for genocide in August.

He believes that the security situation in Baghdad is untenable, as demonstrated by the murders of three of Saddam's defence team during the current trial.

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.