Saddam's trial

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2003
Saddam's trial
13
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 10:17am

I was sort of astonished by the way Saddam looked on TV -- trimmed beard, good suit and it looked like he lost some weight.


He described the trial as "theatre"  -- it looks like the monster has cast himself as a star.


Personally, I think he should have been wearing an orange jump suit and manacles. Why let him manipulate the media like he's doing?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 10:36am
Saddam fights back in court.

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 2:24pm
He isnt manipulating anyone, as the authorities are editing the tapes coming out of the courtroom to prevent just that perception.

The one thing I found funny, ironic and interesting was when al-Tikriti (sp?), one of Hussein's Lieutenants was informed of his rights, his response was "those rights are excellent."

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 4:39pm
I just hope that WE don't let the media manipulate us. As far as Saddam in a suit... well, in the US few prisioners go to their trial in jail jumpsuits. Look at Scott Peterson, sitting all dapper in his suit and tie. I think its supposed to give the jury a feeling that this is is a person like you and I. When you see someone in a jumpsuit, people automatically think "criminal". I suppose they're just trying to give good ole Saddam a chance. Who knows. Everyone knows that he's an evil man.

BUT, what I found HILARIOUS was Saddam's accusations that this whole war/invasion was a stunt by Bush to win the election. Um sure... if anything, its going to be what COSTS him this election. Bush's approval ratings have been taking a dive ever since we got involved with Iraq. Politcally savvy? No... more like politically suicidal.

~L

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 5:41pm
I for one would love to see how these procedings are going to go down. Iraq is a country "we, all good americans" invaded due to its tyrany and unfair treatment of its people.

Because of the wepons of mass destruction that I believe have yet to be found and to bring down an ujust government. What strikes me now, is that the fair and just American judicial system is violating this man’s inalienable rights. (Be he a tyrant dictator or not) The right to defend himself against his accusers. They are infringing on freedom of speech by allowing only American reporters and some how I feel that Mr. Huesseins trial will be anything but fair. I am not a supporter of this man or what his government stood for I am however an avid supporter of the American constitution and that is being violated here. So what makes those who are trying him ANY DIFFERENT from him?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 6:57pm
That's a very good point. In all honesty... I doubt Saddam will get a fair trial. Not with all the publicity and one-sided-ness that's going on. Don't get me wrong... I believe that the guy deserves to fry for what he did to his people... but I think that there should be a better way than the Iraqis putting him on trial. He will be (despite the fact that he's guilty) railroadded.... which in turn will again put the entire globe angry at the US because (of course) its all our fault.

I think that the UN should set up a special court for him at The Hauge to deal with his crimes against humanity. I think that that is the ONLY way he will have a chance to atleast EXPLAIN himself. But, with everyone's emotions running so high who knows what will happen. I'm just worried that his little henchmen are going to try to bust him out... or do more terrorism until he's released ("we will kill one hostage every hour until Saddam is freed" nonsense)... like many evil people's *friends* do when they are put away.

Gosh I'm glad I live in America and am DEFINATELY under the radar LOL

~L

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 8:23pm
You had an excellent idea! (I think that the UN should set up a special court for him at The Hauge to deal with his crimes against humanity.)

This war wether you were in favor of it or against it has cost a lot more than just the money spent lives that we can never get back men & women who will never kiss their spouses or read to their children or hug their parent’s again. These brave soldiers gave their lives in the name of freedom and democracy so it is sad to see that the principles of democracy are not being employed in this situation.

I’m also quite appalled to see that the tragedies leading up to this trial are being exploited to push political agendas. Mr. Bush, Mr. Kerry Please take a moment where instead of telling us what the other has done wrong you tell us What you plan to do when you come into power or back into power as the case maybe. And finally a suggestion to the next administration I realize that it is important to be active participants in the reconstruction and resocialization of Iraq but take a moment to look in your own backyard before you go play G.I Joe to the rest of the world, Innocent blood is being shed here at home daily, American children are going hungry, uneducated and abused right here in this great nation, hard working men and women are loosing their jobs and homes because of the failing economy that just four years ago was a thriving and enviable one so please spend a little less time on working on your neighbohr's home and a little more time working on your own. All is NOT well in this beautiful and mighty nation that I am proud and honored to be able to call my home.


Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.




Sorry for the some what off topic rant.

Allie


Edited 7/2/2004 8:27 pm ET ET by allie_in_the_rain

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2004
Mon, 07-05-2004 - 7:52pm
Personally, I agree with you. However, I don't think that Saddam will get off, no matter who well he dresses. Do you?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2004
Mon, 07-05-2004 - 9:30pm
Hi,

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Jenny Hsu

Graduate Student

University of Michigan

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2004
Mon, 07-05-2004 - 11:46pm
if saddam gets locked up, he still has people on the outside that worship him. so whats to say they wont do anything to us because of what we did. i agree with whoever said we need to stop worrying about others and start taking care of ourselves.

this country has way too many ghettos, way too many diff languages, pick one and stick with it, dont make every business basically have to go bilingual and make it that much harder for born americans to get a job. if we all spoke the same language in this country life would be SOO much easier for everyone. no confusion, or higher pay wages to people that are bilingual. (how fair is that?)

but this country needs so much work, gangs, ghettos, hate crimes, murders, god the list goes on and on (but we all know this right cause we live here?, well obv no presidents do)

i have so many mixed feelings on this war and this saddam back in the custody of iraq issue. dont you find it a little terrifying that hes still breathing? esp after what we did to him, i mean come on the man is absolutley CRAZY, why do we mess with people like that? grrr...

sigh...im ready for a new president...sad that we dont really have the best of choices, either way i think we are screwed.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-06-2004 - 8:38am
"You must put no man on trial before anything that is called a court...under forms of judicial proceeding, if you are not willing to see him free. If you are determined to execute a man in any case, there is no occasion for a trial; the world yields no respect to courts that are merely organized to convict."

Justice Robert Jackson. One of the organizers of the procedure used at Nuremburg, and chief American prosecutor, lead prosecutor for the Nuremburg trials and U.S. Supreme Court justice. By the way, the Nazis on trial there were not tried for "war crimes." That was a whole seperate set of trials. They were tried on "new" crimes of making aggresive war, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. Also, there was no charge of "genocide." The word didn't even exist at the time of the Nuremburg trials.

That said, Saddam may not be a easy to convict of certain crimes as we think. With the new international policy of "preemtive strikes" now embraced by this administration, it may prove problamatic to convict Saddam of violating international law for his war with Iran. Especially since he has been turned over to the Iraqi courts, and not an international tribunal.

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