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Iraq
New Judge Tosses Saddam From Courtroom
2006-09-21
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The new chief judge in the Saddam Hussein genocide trial threw the former Iraqi president out of court Wednesday, and his lawyers stormed out in protest. A leading human rights group charged that the government's decision to replace the former chief judge, Abdullah al-Amiri, threatens the independence of the troubled tribunal.

Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa presided Wednesday after the government removed al-Amiri, who angered Kurds by declaring last week that Saddam was "not a dictator." The ousted president and seven others are on trial for the Operation Anfal crackdown on Kurdish rebels in the late 1980s. The prosecution says about 180,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

Defense lawyers immediately questioned the decision to replace al-Amiri. "We don't expect this court established under the occupation authorities to be fair so we have decided to withdraw from this trial," defense lawyer Wadoud Fawzi told the court. "The decision to sack the judge on the orders of the government shows that this trial lacks the standards of a fair trial," Fawzi said.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  Thanks, Charles. I thought it might be some kind of insult, but it makes some more sense that it's suggesting that if his father could do it, so should Saddam be able to. Of course, Saddam would have to veil that so it couldn't be used against him, but it's one more bit of circumstantial evidence that holds up pretty well in my mind. This kind of stuff should be all over the MSM.

I know, that's why I said should. :-)
Posted by: gorb   2006-09-21 14:41  

#3  I have no idea what was just said here. Any Iraqi ==> English translations anyone?

Saddam is saying that the judges father was a serving seargent under the security forces, possibly the ones who tortured innocent victims, until Baghad fell in 2003. The judge is challenging Saddam on that claim with the public as witness.
Posted by: Charles   2006-09-21 08:49  

#2  Someone should remind to thoe nutjobs that independe of judge is not a goal but a mean towards fairness of the judge. Would they found acceptable a judge who systematically released child rapers because he is a pedophile himself?
Posted by: JFM   2006-09-21 04:52  

#1  A leading human rights group charged that the government's decision to replace the former chief judge, Abdullah al-Amiri, threatens the independence of the troubled tribunal.

I don't know, seems fair to me. If the old judge couldn't tell the difference between a tyrant, a dictator, and a duly elected president, then as far as I am concerned he should be picking up trash in a park somewhere and loving it, and not trying cases. Especially this kind of trash.

Seems like Human Rights Watch is desperate to look like it's doing something, even if it is wrong. Oh, I forgot, there's people implicitly who believe this kind of crap and give them big donations. Silly me!

"Your father was in the security and he went on working as a sergeant in the security (forces) until the fall of Baghdad" in 2003, Saddam shouted.

Al-Khalifa shot back: "I challenge you in front of the public if this is the case."

I have no idea what was just said here. Any Iraqi ==> English translations anyone?
Posted by: gorb   2006-09-21 03:30  

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