The Iraqi special tribunal trying Saddam Hussein and several of his cohorts has handed down its verdict on the former dictator: death by hanging. He, as usual, was defiant:
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was found guilty by a special tribunal Sunday of crimes against humanity for the torture and execution of more than 100 people from a small town north of Baghdad 24 years ago. He was sentenced to death by hanging.
Hussein, 69, was led into the courtroom by seven guards and immediately sat in his chair, refusing to rise for his verdict until Chief Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman ordered guards to force him to his feet.
"Long live the people!" Hussein shouted as the verdict was being announced. "Down with the stooges! Down with the invaders! God is great!"
Most Iraqis celebrated at the news, rushing to the streets and rooftops to fire guns into the air. (One wonders how many people are killed when they do things like this, since those bullets have to come down somewhere.) Some, however, weren't thrilled at the judgement against this monster:
In Tikrit, Hussein's home town, thousands of people reportedly took to the street in defiance of the curfew, many crying and screaming and firing guns into the air in anger. "With the soul and blood we sacrifice for you, Saddam!" some protesters screamed.
Protesters in Tikrit attacked the local Iraqi army base with light weapons. No casualties were reported.
Losers. What they're really upset at is the loss of all the money and privileges lavished on Tikrit by a mass-murderer who admires Hitler and Stalin.
Of course, the moonbats are out in force, convinced the timing of the verdict is a desperate "November surprise" by the Bush Administration to help the Republican Party, which is expected to lose control of the House next Tuesday. Give me a break. Saddam is just a minor blip on the American news scene; this verdict will barely cause a ripple. The people who claim this is all timed for the election are the same ones who believe the Republicans stole Ohio in 2004 and Florida in 2000.
One interesting facet of the verdict is the appeals process: Saddam's sentence is automatically sent to a nine-judge panel for review. They can take as long as they want, but the sentence, if affirmed, must be carried out within 30 days of the decision. Since he has yet to face trial for the genocidal campaigns against the Kurds and Marsh Arabs (and so many others), he could be executed before those proceedings are finished. Just for the sake of public justice for the victims of those crimes, I hope the appeals court waits.
Some on the International Left have suggested that this trial lacks legitimacy since it wasn't held outside of Iraq: the argument is that this is "victors' justice," imposed by the US and its allies, and that such a trial could in no way be seen as fair. They also argue that the Iraqi judicial system, so soon after escaping the damage done to it by Saddam's misrule, is too fragile to conduct a trial of this gravity and complexity.
Bunk.
This trial had to be conducted in Iraq and by Iraqis. It's successful conclusion will be a key step in the establishment of the rule of law, for, not only does it exact justice from the dictator, but it shows ordinary people facing their former tormentor in court as equals. It shows the people that they can get justice within a democratic system. To transfer it to a court like the Hague would have been to patronize the Iraqi people: "You aren't ready for this, little ones. Let the adults of the International System (cue trumpets) show you how it's done." But we saw "how it's done" in the farcical proceedings against Slobodan Milosevic at the Hague. No, thanks.
No matter. The truth is that a just verdict was rendered against the man who made the Iraqi peoples' lives a utter hell for over 30 years, though a simple hanging is less than what he deserves.
LINKS: More at Michelle Malkin, Captain Ed, Gateway Pundit, Talk Left, Iraq the Model, and Gay Patriot.
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