Article

2008-12-17 Iraq

Al-Zaydi refuses to empower Saddam's lawyer to defend him

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2008-12-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top
File under: Iraqi Baath Party

#1 "I seen what happened to his last client!"

Posted by Anguger Tojo4943 2008-12-17 00:40|| 2008-12-17 00:40|| Front Page Top

#2 Who's he holding out for, Ramsey Clark?

Posted by tu3031 2008-12-17 01:26|| 2008-12-17 01:26|| Front Page Top

#3 Dulaimi was, let us say, dirtier than the average revanchist Sunni (connections and activities-wise). Also, surprise surprise, an utterly ineffective doofus in terms of actually defending Saddam. Not that such a task was simple, including whatever mistakes were Saddam's personal wishes, which Dulaimi (or others) would not dare disregard.

Two of the three Iraqi defense lawyers murdered during the Dujayl case were among the best and most legitimate Sunni lawyers to be had. They might have been quite useful in this situation - a competent defense only enhances the quality and legitimacy of the justice system.

While the whole thing arouses long-standing violent raging ambivalence about Iraqis and the Arab world, I tend to think the best course would be for the Iraqi govt. to make it clear the guy's behavior was unacceptable, and a national disgrace, without much jail time.

And our best course would be to stay quiet, and when pressed reluctantly mumble that while we found the incident strange and offensive, we prefer the greatest possible tilt towards press freedom, and thus are not asking for any particular punishment.

Posted by Verlaine 2008-12-17 03:10|| 2008-12-17 03:10|| Front Page Top

#4 Although very easy to point and laugh from one side or the other, a very important issue has been brought to the forefront.

This guy was not turned into an omelet. Did not disappear/have family brutilized, and the footage released for all the world to see.

Why do I think that is important? First, it legitimizes the transparency of the media. Second, as was mentioned yesterday, it shows a disrespect to the host of an invited guest. And I have to bring up something which has been clunking around in my head that if was expecting to die during this tantrum then wouldn't he have been doing his death chant rather than some slogan? Competent legal counsil and trial only further legitimizes the gains of the Iraq government and gulf between Iraq and other regional peoples. Does 7-10 years seem harsh, well I don't know it is Iraq's call but I can imagine what would happen if I threw a snowball at a football coach post game and hit one of those state troopers in the background.

That, and I saw better throwing during halftime of the Florida/Bama game. Epic failure.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-12-17 12:07|| 2008-12-17 12:07|| Front Page Top

#5 "Who's he holding out for, Ramsey Clark?"

I was hoping for Mark Geragos.

Posted by William Marcy Tweed 2008-12-17 14:06|| 2008-12-17 14:06|| Front Page Top

#6 Lynne Stewart, because she's Teh Hawt

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-12-17 20:11|| 2008-12-17 20:11|| Front Page Top

23:58 eltoroverde
23:57 JFM
23:57 Abu do you love
23:55 Snogum Guelph7607
23:53 Jolutch Mussolini7800
23:39 Frank G
23:34 rjschwarz
23:33 lftbhndagn
23:18 JamesXJ
23:16 Frank G
23:08 Frank G
23:05 Barbara Skolaut
23:02 Danielle
22:57 Cornsilk Blondie
22:55 Frank G
22:36 Frank G
22:32 gorb
22:25 tipper
22:21 Cornsilk Blondie
22:18 tu3031
22:17 Rambler in Virginia
22:15 Frank G
22:15 Frank G
22:14 Frank G