Saddam's Trial Postponed Again

Saddam Hussein's trial in Iraq didn't last too long after it started once again this week. Today, the trial was suspended again until December 21 (article in Spanish) and once again puts another obstacle and casts a shadow on this "trial of the century" in Iraq.

The day started off on the wrong foot as Saddam followed through on his threat to not attend trial as a sign of protest against the mistreatment he received as a prisoner of the U.S. and to claim that the tribunal was illegitimate. Saddam's and his lawyers have made this claim before since the tribunal was set up by a provisional Iraqi government during a period of time where Iraq was under occupation. The defense team has also pointed out the lack of security for its members (2 have been killed) which is a worry shared by UN Human Rights watchers who also condemn the possibility that the "death penalty" might be the outcome of the trial.

If you add to this, that witnesses have given lackluster testimony and that Saddam's been allowed to freely rant against the U.S. and the tribunal, and you have a trial under a lot of difficulty. Martin Asser of the BBC news agrees that this trial has great difficulties in his article titled: Rocky Road to Justice in Iraq.

Perhaps postponing the trial until the U.S. pulls out would give it that extra bit of legitimacy it requires? For I believe we can all agree that Saddam did do some horrible things during his reign.

Read what others around the world have to say:
- Saddam keeps manipulating and has succeeded in pausing the trial.

Tags: Current events, International, In the News, News and Politics, Iraq, Saddam Hussein