The Saddam Trial Resumes

So the Saddam trial resumed today, and Saddam was in a bit better mood…in the beginning at least:

A noticeably calmer Saddam Hussein sat quietly in his defendant’s chair at the resumption of his trial Wednesday, two weeks after he called the court “unjust” and boycotted a session. When the judge refused to let him take a break to pray, the former leader closed his eyes and appeared to pray from his seat. …

The deposed president had refused to attend the previous session on Dec. 7. “I will not come to an unjust court! Go to hell!” he said in an outburst in court the day before.

But on Wednesday, his behavior was calmer, and he appeared clean-shaven and in fresh clothes, wearing a dark suit but no tie. Previously during the trial, Saddam has appeared disheveled and has complained about being held in unsanitary conditions.

After greeting the court with a traditional “Peace be upon you,” he sat quietly in the defendants’ area and appeared to pay close attention to the proceedings, at times taking notes.

We then heard about some of Saddam’s deeds:

A witness testified Wednesday at Saddam Hussein’s trial that the deposed leader’s regime killed and tortured people by administering electric shocks and ripping off their skin after pouring molten plastic on it.

[…]The prosecution’s first witness Wednesday was a man who testified about killings and torture in Dujail after the attempt to assassinate Saddam. Ali Hassan Mohammed al-Haidari, who was 14 in 1982, started off by quoting from the Quran, the Islamic holy book, about how evil would be defeated.

[…]Al-Haidari said that he and other residents from Dujail ? including family members ? were taken to Baghdad and thrown into a security services prison, where people from “9 to 90” were held.

Blood poured from head wounds and skin was pale from electric shocks, he testified. Security officials would drip melted plastic hoses on detainees, only to pull it off after it cooled, tearing skin off with it, he said.

“I cannot express all that suffering and pain we faced in the 70 days inside,” he said.

After a recess, another witness took the stand ? the first of four the judge said would testify from behind a curtain Wednesday.

[…]At another point when al-Haidari referred to Saddam by name, the former leader interrupted, saying “Saddam who?” implying the proper respect hadn’t been shown. The judge asked the witness whom he meant, and the witness restated: “I mean the former Iraqi president.”

The trial was marked by one unruly outburst ? from Saddam’s half brother. In an exchange that was largely edited out of the televised feed, Ibrahim called al-Haidari “a dog” and his dead brothers “rotten dogs.” Guards entered the court and threatened to take him out, but Ibrahim wagged his finger at them, saying he could only be ordered to leave by the judge, who allowed him to stay.

After listening to the evidence against him Saddam couldn’t help himself. He stood up and acted like the childish spoiled little brat we have all come to know and despise:

Saddam Hussein launched into an extended outburst at his trial Wednesday, alleging he had been “beaten and tortured by Americans” while in detention after a witness testified that his agents had tortured people by ripping off their skin.

The trial’s chief prosecutor said that if American-led multinational forces were abusing the former Iraqi leader, he would be transferred to the custody of Iraqi troops.

“Yes, I have been beaten, everywhere on my body. The marks are still there,” Saddam told the court after sitting quietly listening to testimony. “And I’m not complaining about the Americans because I can poke their eyes with my own hands.”

Those Marines better watch their eye’s, Saddam is coming for them :thumbup_tb:

[…]Standing in the fenced-in defendant’s area, Saddam complained at length about the conditions of his detention, engaging in a debate with the chief prosecutor, Jaafar al-Mousawi.

Saddam also told the court that he knew the name of the person who betrayed his hiding place when U.S. forces found him in December 2003.

Can you believe this guy? Initially he was calm and subdued, probably an after effect of the election since he now realizes no one is going to rise up and put him back into power, but after hearing the claims of torture he couldn’t take it anymore. He rose up and acted once again like a power hungry man who’s power has been taken away from him. Beaten? Let some of the family members of those he tortured and raped get their hands on him….now that would be justice.

Next he’s going to complain that the NSA has been listening to his phone call’s…them bastards!

Vahal at The Iraqi Vote had some great comments about the trial:

If I haven’t said this before, then here it is. I really like judge Rizgar, the presiding judge for the Dujail case. He is criticized by many for being too soft, but when all is said and done, we will remember that Saddam was treated with everything he denied us for so many years: respect, decency, goodwill, clarity, noble intentions etc…

This judge is such a powerful example for what the new Iraqi judges should be like, just not vindictive, kind not ruthless, calm not angry, respectful not feared.

I hate the defense team not because they are defending Saddam and his partners as they are entitled to that, but because they simply don’t get it.

Khalil al-Dulaimi, the chief lawyer acts as though the judges and the prosecution owe him and his team something. At almost every session, he tries to bring up the issue of the legitimacy of the court. This is what I mean by they don’t get it, the court is not going to let them discuss its legitimacy because their job is to defend a group of people charged with killing innocent people and demolishing a town, not to provide an opinion on the legitimacy of the court.

[…]The defendants must have initially thought that they would be killed upon capture because that’s how they dealt with human beings, but now that they know they won’t be killed before a process, they sure take advantage.

[…]Yes, Saddam gets away with a lot inside the court and it is painful for so many of us to see Saddam speak not as a prisoner but as a lawyer or a judge, however, it is all worth it and while some Iraqis may be vindictive, those who believe in fair trials for ruthless dictators should be happy that the court is ruled by such a professional judge, Mr. Rizgar Muhammad Amin.