Saddam's New Lawyer

Great. Saddam has attracted some quality defense from the US.

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and ex-Qatari Justice Minister Najeeb al-Nauimi told Reuters in Amman they were on their way to the Iraqi capital to join chief Iraqi lawyer Khalil Dulaimi when proceedings resume on Monday for the first time since Saddam's trial began on October 19.

The trial was postponed for 40 days to give the defense more time to prepare.

"Our plan is to go to court in Baghdad on Monday morning representing the defense counsel as defense support. A fair trial in this case is absolutely imperative for historical truth to justice obviously," Clark told Reuters.

Both Clark and Nauimi backed suggestions by some human rights groups that a fair trial was impossible before a U.S.-backed court in Iraq and the case should be moved abroad and tried before an international tribunal.

I'd really like to know why they think it so imperative to protect Saddam's human rights when they did nothing to protect the human rights of the thousands that Saddam tortured and murdered. The assumption is that he will have his rights violated. But, by only broadcasting how the trial will be unfair, all they do is undermine the potential for the trail to be fair and just.

Of course Clark is known for his Vietnam war activities and his defense of Slobodan Milosevic. But that shouldn't tell you anything about the man. Or should it?