Saddam's Trial

This week the trial of Saddam Hussein begins in Baghdad, the place where it all started for him, over 20 years ago.

It’s going to be interesting to watch, assuming we get the chance. There was talk that it would be broadcast on television, but that wasn’t confirmed at the time of this writing. Regardless, the thing to watch for is spin: political and legal.

The American government will try and make themselves look like victims rather than antagonists, considering their support for Saddam from 1980 to 1988 during the Iran/Iraq war. Don’t be surprised to hear George W. Bush talk about a “fair trial”. That’s doublespeak meaning Saddam won’t get one.

It all depends on what Saddam is asked, rather than on what he says. Will the prosecution ask him about the 8 year relationship with the United States? or will they stick to his crimes after 1988? It seems likely that the prosecution is going to stick to the 1982 massacre at Dujail, where 150 Shiites were executed and 1,500 imprisoned without trial, at least to start. Where it goes from there, is anybody’s guess.

One of the things we don’t know, is whether Saddam is coherent. He’s been in jail for nearly 2 years, essentially in solitary confinement with few visits from members of his family. Don’t be surprised to see him portrayed as mentally unstable or senile by the media. Again, more spin.

The fact of the matter is this: the former dictator committed crimes against his own people, directly or indirectly. It will be up to us to understand the complicity of the American government in his rise as dictator. This information is key to understanding the history of the region, the US government’s invasion in 2003 and the corporate and political partners. Nobody ever gets to the top without some help.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.