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Posted on 03/25/2004 4:14:17 PM PST by IPWGOP
I commend Former Governor James R. Thompson (R-IL) who as part of the 9/11 Hearings was most excellent in his questioning of Richard Clarke. My favorite question was when Thompson held up a copy of Clarke's book AND a copy of the transcript from Clarke's 2002 briefing and asked, "Which is true, Mr. Clarke?" Bless you, Gov. Thompson!!
Cousins?
CAIRO, December 15 (IslamOnline.net) – Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsy Clarke expressed readiness Sunday, December14 , to act as defense lawyer for ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, with western analysts suspecting the captured leader would be given fair trial.
"Certainly, why not. I am ready to act in his defense," Clarke told IslamOnline.net shortly after the U.S. confirmed the detention of Saddam near Tikrit.
Clarke, currently in Cairo to attend a two-day international anti-occupation conference, stressed that Saddam – however brutal – should be give a "fair, objective and impartial trial".
"Saddam must be domestically prosecuted first and - if this fails - he should be referred to an international court," said the former American official, known for his staunch opposition to the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.
He doubted, however, that the ousted Iraqi president would be given such a fair trial.
Clarke averred that neither the U.S.-installed Interim Governing Council (IGC) nor the occupation forces is eligible to try the overthrown president.
"The IGC does not represent Iraq. It is Bush's council," said the former U.S. attorney general.
He noted that the Iraqi body was quick to say that DNA test proved the captured man was Saddam.
"Do you think that they can take the test themselves. They are puppets," Clarke maintained.
For the occupation forces to take over the trial, he dismissed this as a would-be ridiculous proposal.
"Occupation of Iraq is in itself an international crime" and runs counter to common decency and moral integrity.
Asked if Saddam could be taken to the International Criminal Court, the former U.S. attorney general whimsically ruled out the suggestion, noting Washington does not even recognize the court.
U.N. Intervention
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"I think the Iraqi resistance could be much stronger (after Saddam’s capture)," said Galloway |
But former British lawmaker Tony Benn said that since Bush ordered a mission to assassinate Saddam, the chances for him to have a just trial would be "minimum".
Benn, also a broadcaster, had made a televised interview with Saddam days before the U.S.-led invasion, where the former Iraqi leader denied possessing weapons of mass destruction or having links to Al-Qaeda as propagated by Washington.
"He is a brutal dictator, never make any mistake about that, but we are against war and occupation" of the oil-rich country, Benn told IOL.
However, Saddam "must be treated respectfully, and assumed innocent until proven guilty," he stressed.
On his part, former U.N. envoy to Iraq Denis Halliday appealed to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to take action to secure "a proper" tribunal to try Saddam.
"I hope that Annan would stand up and express human rights" of Saddam regardless of his earlier crimes against his people, he said.
But there is no conditions for this with the continued state of occupation, said Halliday, who resigned a few years ago charging that the U.N. weapons program had much harmed Iraqi people than their leaders.
'No Excuses Now'
For prominent British legislator George Galloway, the Iraqi resistance could pick up after the news, as the people of the occupied country have nothing to fear except a long-term foreign occupation.
"I think the Iraqi resistance could be much stronger, for two reasons," Galloway said.
Saddam’s supporters would be inflamed by humiliation he suffered at the hands of the U.S. occupation forces during after the detention, he elaborated.
For his opponents in the country, they no longer fear his return to power – a possibility that deterred many Iraqis from joining resistance operations and – and would now join hands to liberate their country, added the British lawmaker.
The U.S. soldiers also have no excuse not to back up and leave the country after Saddam’s capture, Galloway said.
"We have much bigger enemies now," the staunch anti-war campaigner noted.
He stressed that Arab leaders should watch their steps "as they are all, without exception, corrupt kings and puppet leaders".
They are fears, however, that Saddam’s capture might distract attention from international mobilization to end the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
"We must not be distracted by the propaganda that would be built on this," said British Muslim activist Salma Yaqoub.
Sorry so late... I could not get on the FR site today. But a wonderful Freeper sent me a regular email with an alternate URL and ta-da! Mucho thanks to her!! :)
Please let me know if you wnat OFF or ON my cartoon Ping List. Thanks!! :) Linda
Good one! LOLOLOL!!
Thanks very much! :)
Gotcha added!! :)
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