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Iraq
Saddam spars with judge as chaos again mars trial
2006-02-14
BAHGDAD - Ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein angrily sparred with the judge during his trial on charges of crimes against humanity Monday, saying he had been dragged back to court against his wishes after boycotting the last hearings. “Down with traitors, down with Bush, long live the ummah (Islamic nation),” roared Saddam as he arrived under tight security in the Baghdad courtroom for the first time since January 29.
Cause we all know how religious Saddam was when he was in charge.
The trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants, which has frequently descended into chaos since it opened in October, was adjourned until Tuesday after only a few hours. “I was forced into the courtroom,” Saddam told chief judge Rauf Rasheed Abdel Rahman, whose tough handling of the trial had triggered a boycott by all defendants at the last hearing on February 2.
No doubt he'll be forced onto the trap.
“This is not a court this is a game,” said Saddam, wearing a robe and heavy jacket rather than his usual smart suit, pounding on a podium in the dock. “Shame on you Rauf, you are insignificant,” he shouted at the judge, accusing him of being “ignorant of the law” and implementing ”American law”.
We wish.
Abdel Rahman, who took over as chief judge only last month after the resignation of his precedessor, banged his gavel on several occasions as he sought to silence Saddam’s efforts to discredit the tribunal. The Kurdish judge warned the former dictator he would not be permitted to boycott the trial. “The law states that if the defendants refuse to appear before the court, he will be forced to appear before court, we are implementing the law.”

MondayÂ’s hearing featured the written testimony of 23 complainants as well as the appearance of two former regime officials, who also said they were there against their will.
"Please don't kill us!"
The visibly-annoyed Kurdish judge made clear his patience had run out and cut Saddam off when the 68-year-old asked for another chance to speak. “I’ve given you enough chances,” Abdel Rahman retorted, amid repeated insults by Saddam, who shouted: “God damn your moustaches,” a slur meant to denigrate the judge’s manhood.
What about his shoes?
Barzan also frequently interrupted the session as guards were seen pushing him down into his seat in the dock. “You are a military judge,” shouted Barzan, bare-headed and clad in a white undershirt instead of his usual traditional Arab headdress and gown.

After being cut him off several times, Barzan sat with his back defiantly to the judge for much of the session. During witness testimony, however, he returned to arguing with the judge and frequently had to be disciplined.

Ahead of Monday’s session, Saddam’s chief lawyer Khalil Al Dulaimi said the defense team had a number of conditions for its return, including replacing Abdel Rahman and prosecutor Jaafar Al Mussawi. He also called for improved security for defense counsel and continuous television transmission of the trial without periodic cuts to ensure it is “transparent and fair”.
The more they protest the judge and prosecutor, the more confidence I have in the trial.
During the session, the court read the written testimony of 23 witnesses who could not attend the trial. Their testimony was similar to that of past complainants detailing their arrest and abuse by security services after the attempt on SaddamÂ’s life.

Saddam’s former chief of staff Ahmed Hussein Khudeir was brought to the witness stand, complaining bitterly that he had been coerced. “I don’t want to be a witnesss, not in this trial, not in any other.

“I won’t testify against my president,” he said, adding that he only heard about the Dujail events from the BBC and he could not remember any details.
"I know nothing! NA-thing! Tell them, Hogan!"
The court presented several execution decrees stemming from the Dujail case bearing KhudeirÂ’s signature. But he said they were routine office procedure notifying government departments about the implementation of a sentence of execution.

Hassan Al Obedi, the second witness, also said he was coerced into appearing and said the “Americans asked me to give testimony”.

Human rights campaigners believe that Abdel Rahman, a Kurd who was twice arrested by the Saddam government and at one point was tortured so badly he was partly paralyzed, has a tough job ahead of him. Abdel Rahman was born in Halabja, the Kurdish town bombed by SaddamÂ’s forces with chemical weapons in 1988 -- another of the events for which Saddam could be tried later.
Posted by:Steve White

#2  Nah, cut off his Doritos until he behaves, tw. I hear he's partial to the nacho cheese ones.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2006-02-14 14:54  

#1  I think gagging the gentlemen in question is appropriate, followed by tying them to their chairs, unless the judge thinks publicly spanking them would be more effective.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-02-14 14:47  

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