Saddam Hussein's Trial Not Going Well

Saddam Hussein's Trial Not Going Well

Defense lawyer Adel Mohammed Abbas, was shot dead on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on him and lawyer Tamer Hammud Hadi in Baghdad. Abbas is the second defense lawyer to be killed since this trial started in October. Another defense lawyer, Saadun Janabi, was abducted and found dead on October 21st.

You will recall that Hussein and his seven co-defendants are charged in this trial with ordering the killings and torture of more than 140 Iraqis in Dujail in 1982 following an attempt to assassinate Hussein when he was visiting the town. When the trial started Hussein was defiant right from the beginning! He refused to stand when asked and would not give his full name. Saddam Hussein said, "You know me, if you're an Iraqi, then you know."

The defense lawyers asked for more time to prepare their case and the trial was postponed. Now with the second murder of a defense lawyer the high profile trial is once again in the spotlight! One has to wonder if the trial can be held in Iraq in the midst of domestic turmoil and insurgency.

Khalil al-Dulaimi, one of Saddam's main lawyers, blamed the government for these attacks. He wants to move the trial to a neutral country and is asking for protection for all the lawyers. Abdel Haq Alani, another main lawyer of Hussein, says that President Bush is to blame for the turmoil in Iraq and the assassinations!

I would like to hear what you think about Saddam Hussein's trail, is it a fair trial or a mockery of justice? Please leave your comments.