News In Briefs

"Not Justice But Revenge"

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been found guilty of crimes against humanity... or war crimes... or something. The guy was bad news, okay? And it's this sort of trial that will surely lead to all sorts of nastiness in the middle east.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like Hussein at all. But I do believe in a fair trial, and the rules of law. While Saddam is unquestionably guilty, history will record that he was convicted by a virtual kangaroo court and sentenced to death without a fair trial.
The US President, George Bush, on the way to campaign in Nevada, said: "There is still a lot of work to do in Iraq, but this is an important achievement on the path to a free and just and unified society.
"Saddam Hussein's trial is a milestone in the Iraqi people's effort to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law."
The Prime Minister, John Howard, also welcomed the verdict. "The whole process of the trial is a sign of democratic hope, and I believe the world should see it as such," Mr Howard said on television.
Britain said Saddam had been held to account for his role in ordering the deaths of 148 Shiite villagers in Dujail, north of Baghdad. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, did not comment publicly, but the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said in a statement: "It is right that those accused of such crimes against the Iraqi people should face Iraqi justice."
The British QC Geoffrey Robertson agreed it had been right to bring the former dictator to trial for genocidal attacks, but said the judiciary was not independent and Saddam should have been tried in a UN court.
"Saddam's public execution will provide an obscene spectacle, an example not of justice but of wild justice, otherwise known as revenge," the Australian-born lawyer said.
On another note, John Howard said that while he opposed the use of the death penalty in Australia or against Australians, "what other countries do with the death penalty is other countries' business". Unless of course it's Aussie drug smuglers in Indonesia. THAT's a different story altogether.

posted by Steve @ Tuesday, November 07, 2006