The news media seems so surprised about Saddam Hussein's defense

[spacelady]

in his trial in that he still considers himself to be the leader of Iraq and that he is being illegally detained & deposed. Now we all can most likely agree that he is a "very bad man", but what is the legality? Just substitutue any "hated leader" and please tell me what is the difference?

[bloom]

1. It does seem to me

that the US has undermined any case it might have had by the way the US has used torture, chemical weapons, the killing of civilians.

:shrug:

[bbinacan]

2. Chemical weapons?

Please clue me in. Thanks.

[spacelady]

5. White Phosphorus n/t

[bbinacan]

8. Forgive my ignorance but

what does white phosphorous do and how is it related? Be gentle, I'm new. Thanks.

[Rex]

13. It is a chemical used in weapons to brighten an area.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/mk77.htm

It can also be used as a horrible weapon. Even if used indirectly, it can still kill everyone around from splash damage.

[bbinacan]

18. Thanks for the info

but I won't lose any sleep at Hussein's demise. IMHO, he is a monster.

[Rex]

25. I agree totally, he is a monster no sympathy here either.

IMO, Saddam lost his power when a bigger dictator crushed his regime and took over. I think we call it Dick Cheney.

[spacelady]

14. There have been recent threads and there are poeple who can explain it

better that I but in essence white phosphorus will burn you to the bone if it is left uncovered upon contact & it has been revealed that the U.S. military has used it on the people of Iraq. It was formerly claimed to have only be used as a "tracer" for artillery to be tracked by its ability to flare brightly.

[TorchTheWitch]

20. Arguably worse than napalm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4441902.stm

Oh, and we've been using napalm since the beginning of the war... wooops, sorry... it's not napalm, it's the new and improved napalm, so we aren't really using napalm. :crazy:

[bananas]

21. "The pentagon classified WP as a Chemical Weapon"

In case there's any question as to whether or not it's a chemical weapon
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5432814&mesg_id=5432814

[spacelady]

3. Well you go and make up a bunch of reasons to invade a country, then

you blow it to smithereens & imprison its longtime leader & continue to occupy & intimidate its citizens......what could be wrong with that?

I don't mean "you" per se, maybe "they". Anyway, I am having a hard time with the justification of putting Saddam Hussein on trial under these circumstances & if some body can explain it, I would be most grateful.

[Ian David]

10. We're punishing them for failing to give us roses and chocolates

Next time we invade a country, they'll at least bake us a cake.

[spacelady]

You have to agree, though, that U.S. Soldiers MUST stop handing out

candy and toys to Iraqi children, because disaster always follows.
Run away!

[Canuckistanian]

4. Yes, what other atrocity has Saddam committed?

You've already mentioned a few. Illegal detentions, torture, etc.

There are a few you forgot, like "rape rooms", and "mass burial grounds" (Fallujah).

You might say that the US refined and perfected these techniques

[spacelady]

6. So far it seems that Hussein's trial is very shaky on legal grounds in

that the U.S. Government doesn't have a case. Can anyone make the case here?

[Ian David]

12. Saddam was as bad as we were. He needs to be punished for it...

Only America is allowed to do those things.

[spacelady]

16. Ya, you are right. WHAT was I thinking???

[Oversea Visitor]

7. He was no deposed by the people of Iraq

He was deposed of by bush the WORLD most despicable war criminal.

Justice is not being properly serve here. This trial is a sham.
Like everything bush touch he taint it so bad.

Yes Saddam has commited crimes. Do it the right way. But no is has to be bush despicable way.

So now Saddam becomes an icon for injustice of BIG BAD AMERICAN DOUBLE STANDARD.

That is a fact. Sad but true.

Why is it that America need to be drag through the mud just because the president ( who win through the court agains Al Gore, who shock the world by beating Kerry . Amazing how normal sane people all over can be so shock even so many many millions of Americans) wants to be the greates WAR PRESIDENT EVER ( Opps me think WAR CRIMINAL EVER will be what history records.... sigh he cant do a simple thing right).

[bullimiami]

9. the right way would be to send him to the hague, and bush, cheney

and crew right after.
let them keep each other company in their cells.

[Ian David]

11. We can't, because we refused to sign onto the human rights court

It would interfere with our right to invade countries and torture people.

Just like signing onto The Kyoto Accords would interfere with our right to drown New Orleans.

[Oversea Visitor]

15. Yes

But they only want Saddam on trial but not themself.

[Smarmie Doofus]

17. It has the trappings of a kangaroo court. Two defense...

attys murdered followed by an ultra-suspicious "plot" by pro-Saddamers to assasinate the chief judge ( the conspirators were carrying "plans" when apprehended; I kid you not.)

The gang has screwed this up like they have everything else; the trial has absolutely no legitimacy.

[quinnox]

19. America needs ot stay out of it

Let the Iraqi people dispense their own justice, they would string him up in no time without this silly trial.

[spacelady]

22. I think they would if they believed he could never come back and

kill them. Right now, maybe they think he was not so bad after all, since they at least had a semblance of civilization under his rule, as barbaric as it may have been.

[NYC Liberal]

23. I'm surprised the US is even letting the trial go forward.

But I guess they want to oversee things to make sure Saddam doesn't let loose any of their little secrets from the '80s. And be "on hand" if he happens to do so...if you get my drift.

[spacelady]

24. Yeah, Saddam could always hava an unfortunate accident.

Mission Accomplished

[OneBlueSky]

26. "a very bad man" . . . I think it's a race between him and Bush . . .

for the honor of "very baddest man", and at this point Bush is winning hands down . . .