Saddam

[mrph]

So, they've caught him. That's good. If they can give him a fair trial before the eyes of the world, even better.

But still... this is a man who's seemingly spent recent months hiding in a hole in a basement. He's unlikely to be masterminding the current resistance|terrorism in Iraq. He may not even be funding it. Catching him is not going to suddenly - or even gradually - stop that violence.

It's a chance to give the people of Iraq some closure on the old regime - and a chance for justice. It's not going to magically make the new Iraq a better place or haul the occupying powers out of the hole they've been digging for themselves - although it might buy them a little time in which to say "the attacks will dry up any day now, just watch, no really, we mean it this time..."

Comments

[dmh.livejournal.com]

The only bad thing I think can come out of this is if President Bush manages to get re-elected on the back of it. I don't think it will make any immediate difference to the hostile climate in Iraq, but it will give a lot of people peace of mind and long term it does everyone good...

[mrph.livejournal.com]

...assuming they don't botch the legal process. Allegations of a "show trial", even for someone like Saddam, could do a lot of harm.

As for the peace of mind... maybe. The Baath party remnants out there shooting at Westerners are probably seeking power again, yes - but I suspect they'd long ago written off any hope of keeping Saddam as a leader. Realistically, he was never going to be back in power in any shape or form.

[mhw.livejournal.com]

If it's him.

I certainly wouldn't put pulling a Saddamalike out of the hat past that lot.

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

I was worried that he might get back in, epecially if Iraq developed into a vietnam-like situation and the US and UK were forced to leave by public opinion at home. However, looks like things are settling down.

[the-maenad.livejournal.com]

They claim to have already carried out DNA tests.

This does beg the question of how they had Saddam's DNA on file prior to the alleged capture.

Check brisingamen's entry for the best cynical take on the topic so far...

[countess-sophia.livejournal.com]

They killed Saddam's sons recently, so presumably they got DNA samples from them which would show whether this chap is their dad.

Soph

[deliberateblank.livejournal.com]

ISTR a story last year/early this year, that his daughters had defected to the states, and they'd taken DNA samples specifically so they could identify Saddam should he ever fall into their custody.

[fluffymark]

A fair trial would be wonderful. The americans are going to be squirming when saddam is questioned on who exactly funded and supplied all the nasty weapons he used on people.

[mhw.livejournal.com]

They claim to have already carried out DNA tests.

<MR-D>Well, they would, wouldn't they?</MR-D>

I'll certainly go and take a look.

[chimera-s.livejournal.com]

Not just the Americans - during the 80's when he was fighting the Iranians (the bogeymen of that decade)he got various degrees of support from many western nations. There are a lot of nations who would like it if he never took the witness box. If he dies before the trial gets that far (the case for the defense)I wouldn't exactly be surprised.

[butterflyrobert.livejournal.com]

The average American is too stupid to care about who funded Iraq. Its common knowledge that the west put Saddam in power and funded his regime. In other countries its caused outrage and protesting. In the US its largely ignored and the average person thinks Bush is an ok chap and a fine leader. He'll probably get re-elected because of Saddam getting "caught", even if Saddam takes the stand and testified truthfully and digs up verifiable dirt on Bush himself. It'll make no difference.

[chimera-s.livejournal.com]

True - look at how much publicity the recent Balkan war trials have had (virtually none). While Bush may not care, that won't necessarily be the case for various western leaders whose parties may have dirty hands. Besides if one of the European intelligence agencies kills him - most of the Arab world will suspect the CIA or the Mossad - even if one of the Kurdish groups are the 'nominal' guilty party.