Saddam was a no show at his own trial today, protesting the rough treatment he's been getting. He can't exercise, or walk around, or wear nice suits. Oh, and they don't let him go out for cigarettes.
This is clearly his attempt at setting up an insanity defense. Isn't it ironic, and not in the Alanis Morrisette way, that his idea of justice was gassing Kurds and removing limbs for sport and now he thinks he's got it bad?
His behavior is certainly frustrating the Iraqis. I mean the normal ones who aren't insurgents.
At the blog , one person wrote the very valid point that no one else in the world would presume he didn't have to show up to his own criminal trial. Saddam is not being roughed up. He actually has it too good.
At , Ed Morrissey writes today that Saddam should be allowed to stay in his cell, and that the trial should simply go on without him. Truth be told, we all know where this is heading. Ramsey Clark is slick--but he ain't that slick.
I've also noticed a growing frustration with the trial among the conservatives on the Web. In fact, today says that we should have just shot him instead of wasting everyone's time and money with this trial to "prove" his war crimes.
Here's my response to that--sit your ass down. These are the same bloggers who have been tooting the horn of freedom and democracy since March of 2003. If we really want to teach the Iraqis about American-style justice, this trial is a vital demonstration.
Even those with the largest stake in Saddam's execution feel this way. A Kurdish blogger at the site wrote that he's glad the "New Iraqis" have given Saddam what he refused them--some justice, a lawyer, the right not to be tortured. The message this sends is far more powerful than simply pulling the trigger.
If a Kurd has the patience to wait out this trial, the conservative bloggers in America need to cool it.
Today on the show we'll look at the trial, and how it's playing in the Arab world. Later, a look at the case of Tookie Williams, former Crips gang leader who many say is a changed man and deserves clemency. He is scheduled to die on December 13, and his clemency hearing is tomorrow morning.