As the trial of Saddam Hussein winds toward its probable conclusion of at least one conviction and execution, you can expect Saddam Hussein, and news coverage of the trial and sentence, to grow more fevered.
A good example of that would be the latest AP story stating that one of Saddam Hussein's lawyers believes the U.S. will have to beg for Saddam's help eventually:
Saddam Hussein believes the United States will have to seek his help to quell the bloody insurgency in Iraq and open the way for U.S. forces to withdraw, his chief lawyer said Sunday.
Khalil al-Dulaimi argued in an interview with The Associated Press that the former leader is the key to returning stability to Iraq."He's their last resort. They're going to knock at his door eventually," the lawyer said. Saddam is "the only person who can stop the resistance against the U.S. troops."
There is no indication U.S. officials have considered seeking his help. While Saddam's once dominant fellow Sunni Arabs are the backbone of the insurgency, the Shiite Muslim majority and Kurds repressed by his regime would be enflamed by his presence.
The comments from Al-Dulaimi, the head of Saddam's defense team, portrayed a deposed leader who seems to hold out hope he can bargain his way out of trials that threaten him with the death penalty.
Al-Dulaimi said Saddam brought up the topic during a meeting Tuesday, and indicated he would be willing to help the United States — "for the sake of saving both peoples — the Iraqis and Americans."
He quoted Saddam as saying:
"These puppets in the Iraqi government that the Americans brought to power are helpless. They can't protect themselves or the Iraqi people. The Americans will certainly come to me, to Saddam Hussein's legitimate leadership and to the Iraqi Baath Party, to rescue them from their huge quandary."
Although he would not say exactly what Saddam might ask in return for helping, al-Dulaimi said it would not necessarily involve being reinstated as president of Iraq — a nation he ruled brutally and plunged into three devastating wars.
The lawyer suggested, though, that Saddam might be willing to negotiate such help by making the verdict in his trial a bargaining chip.
This is nothing more than an attempt to avoid the likely denouement of Hussein's trial by changing the subject to a far-fetched excuse for keeping Saddam Hussein alive.
Captain's Quarters calls it a case of delusions of grandeur on the part of Saddam Hussein.
It certainly is that, but from a lawyer's perspective, here's what it also is:
If the law is on your side, argue the law.
If the facts are on your side, argue the facts.
If neither the facts nor the law are on your side, pound the table.
If pounding the table doesn't work, SET THE TABLE ON FIRE.
The last resort in defending the indefensible is to create a big distraction.
That's why the "defense" of Saddam Hussein has consisted largely of one attempt after another to create a distraction that might avoid holding Hussein responsible for his acts.
Expect the craziness from Saddam Hussein, his lawyers, and their willing accomplices in the press to accelerate and amplify as we head into the home stretch.
Ah, yes, the Chewbacca defense...
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie | June 26, 2006 at 09:40 AM
Well done, mission accomplished!
It makes me happy and I am celebrating the hanging of this Islamic bastard.
(how interestingly: Idiot Senseless Live And Murderers spells ISLAM)
Well done Iraqi and American administration officials and my congratulation!
I congratulate especially G. W. Bush for his braveness and consider him as a real hero.
If I could, I even would represent him for the Nobel Peace Price because for his efforts to world peace.
Now, since Iraq has been liberated and has the first time to enjoy liberty and freedom, the world should relax and look onwards and remember this as day of joy and happiness.
Since Iraq is reach on oil, it should well pay for our war expenses and for the crimes committed against brave peace loving Americans. Iraq can easily spare at least 50% of the oil revenues to pay us back, because we were dragged into this war by Saddam.
I am also happy about the good timing of this very good justice.
The beginning of the Islamic id festival was the right time and should send a clear
message to the Islamic Sunni bastards around there.
Indeed it is interesting to see the evil coming almost all from Islamic tyrants and
it should be a warning to very close neighbors. We should (and I hope we will) take next
a close eye on Iran and Syria.
I hope that they learned that lesson, not to mess with brave America and that rather sooner then later the tyrants in this country will be overthrown and that the people can enjoy liberty
the American way.
Especially the evil system in Iran should be removed quickly and if needed even with the help of some nukes. Some casualties of course will have to be accepted, but I think that it would be worth, when freedom will replace tyranny and history in the end will prove us as the real good once. (There is a saying which is a good one: better an end with horror, then a horror without end) In the end people will cheer us for our bravery and for our strong will to spread democracy.
Where have been all this stubborn and old fashion Europeans (except UK) in the time of danger, when we needed them most. Only lamenting like a group of chickens, well the dinos have vanished also and soon the world will realize that there is no space for European style politics in a modern age any more. The Hague and the alike are relicts of the past and are insignificant as is a useless body like the UN not to talk about AI (keep dreaming).
We Americans should cancel our membership, because we don’t need them and we should use the money rather for our militia in the wholly war against terror. Every dead terrorist is a
good man and we should offer the world as our gift, good mans.
We also should watch more leftist movement more closely in our neighborhoods and intervene there (like we did in the past) without any hesitation to spare the world from more stupid sufferings.
World, enjoy this happy day and open a good bottle to celebrate this day of heroic act. It’s the milestone which we needed so desperately and now the great god just has given us this important victory.
Congratulation to Iraq and enjoy your liberty which we have fought so hard for you.
Posted by: Peter Rednose | December 30, 2006 at 02:49 PM