[Vision2020] Reactions To Hanging

[Andreas Schou]

On 12/30/06, Chasuk <chasuk at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 12/30/06, Andreas Schou <ophite at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Am I the only one who was made uncomfortable by the hanging? The
> > punishment was warranted, but the trial was a mockery and an utter
> > disaster. It's like cheering for a lynching.
>
> I read this sentiment a lot, but I'm not quite certain why the trial
> was considered a mockery, or a disaster.  From my readings about it,
> the judge was much more tolerant and lenient than I would have been;
> the frequent outbursts and ridiculous theatrics would never have been
> allowed in my courtroom.

In November of 2005, two defense attorneys were killed and a third was
wounded and fled Iraq, whereupon he had to be tracked down, tried to
be convinced to come back and do his job, and he refused. The trial
was adjourned to find a new defense team and not reconvened until
December, when the entire defense team walked out to protest the
trial. Saddam then received an offer to cross-examine his own
witnesses, which he did, except that he avoided cross-examining anyone
and engaged in tirades against the American people. In January, the
chief judge resigned, complaining that the Iraqi government was
interfering with the conduct of the trial. The defense boycotted the
trial throughout January and February, though the trial continued to
be held.

In June, a third member of the defense team was assassinated. Later
that month, with an incomplete defense team still in place, Saddam was
sentenced to death.

Look, we all know what Saddam did. But a fair trial is impossible
under the conditions that exist in Iraq. If we wanted to violate
international law and just lynch him, we could've just done that,
rather than pretend that it was possible to hold a trial in the midst
of a war zone.

-- ACS