Saddam verdict may be delayed - prosecutor

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A court trying Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity could delay its verdict by a few days, the chief prosecutor said on Sunday, in a move that would shift the announcement until after U.S. midterm elections.

The U.S.-backed court had been due to deliver a verdict on November 5, two days before U.S. elections in which President George W. Bush's Republicans fear they could lose control of Congress.

The chief prosecutor, Jaafar al-Moussawi, said the Iraqi High Tribunal was still working on the judgment. "We will know a day or two before the trial if they are ready to announce the verdict," Moussawi told Reuters.

Saddam could go to the gallows if he is found guilty over his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ite Muslims in the village of Dujail after a 1982 assassination attempt.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29872999.htm

[wakeme2008]

1. I smell Rove/Bush at work here...

IMHO, if they find him guilty, the pro-Saddam will revolt, if they find him not guilty the anti-Saddam will revolt. IMHO Rove/Bush do not want a blow up in Iraq just before the elections....

[Rose Siding]

3. I smell Maliki

Yesterday:

"After a hastily arranged video conference with George Bush,
Iraq's prime minister said Saturday that the U.S. president promised to move swiftly to turn over full control of the Iraqi army to the Baghdad government. A close aide to Nouri al-Maliki said later the prime minister was intentionally playing on U.S. voter displeasure with the war to strengthen his hand with Washington."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061028/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

When I read that, I thought that Maliki is more powerful right now than he realizes, What wouldn't bush do to keep the House?

Now this flexing. Maybe a little more pressure to milk whatever it is Iraq's govt bigwigs hearts' desire?

[Journeyman]

2. Could be the internal US polls showed this wouldn't sit well. . .

with an electorate weary of being "gamed" by BushCo, or BushCo fears the violence this verdict may cause will do more damage with the US electorate than the "feel-good" aspect a guilty verdict will inspire.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. I think the court knows it's a lose-lose issue

They could just save their ass and issue a no-decision and turn the matter over to the Hague where US doesn't have any control over it.

[tblue]

5. I think it's great news!

I think it's gonna jack their stuff up!

[ckramer]

6. Trial for Saddam looks bad on United States. Period.

Why? His government got overthrown by an illegal invasion that was against international law.

And Saddam is right in that he is still the president of the Iraq.

So no matter what the verdict will be, it's unfair, unjust to him under such circumstances.

Without Bush's invasion, he would not be sitting in that court room today.

Without Bush's insist, this trial will not go on.

The right thing to do is declearing him not guilty on all major charges, and transfer him to United States; let him live here and work for the cause of Iraqis.

Only that way, the United States would atone its wrong doing.

My opinion only.

[ldf]

7. well, so much for the "death to saddam" verdict

being released two days before the election.

me thinks they don't like being played for the purpose of helping rove/bush boost the repubs, the ones who created this mess.