So what will they try Saddam for? And who will be his judge?

[Generic Other]

I am curious. Is he an international war criminal? Is he an American criminal?

Whose jusrisdiction does his arrest fall under?

Will he be tried and summarily executed by a US military tribunal at Camp X-Ray? Will he be sent to the Hague? The UN? Has he committed a crime?

What possible legal means can be used to justify the manner of his apprehension?

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. so far, only a trial in Iraq has been mentioned

presumably under 'standard' Iraqi law. There's plenty they'll have proof for.

[Generic Other]

2. He'll end up being exiled

They can't kill him. It sets a bad example for the masses if you execute bad leaders.

He may be too hot for us to handle.

[TexasMexican]

10. no way.

he will be executed.

I just wonder if it will be by hanging, beheading, or something else.

[PissedOffPollyana]

16. Perhaps... like most of our puppets before him.

We've let worse walk, but fewer have had the "evil" spread on them like Hussein.

There are too many uncomfortable truths for too many people. I doubt there will be any sort of public trial, unless of course, one of those body/voice doubles is available for lucrative hire. This will be a very touchy subject and the US will have to slog through a shit-storm if they follow their general SOP.

If Saddam should meet with an "accident" or "apparent suicide", there should still be a loud demand for a public trial from within & without the US. It will just be much more convenient for the administration and their "friends" if there is no Saddam or a well-paid exiled Saddam. One is cheaper and less prone to blowback.

[Yupster]

3. My guess

The trial will have as much of an Iraqi face on it as we can. He'll be publicly executed by the Iraqis with a whole lot of his aides.

[Silverhair]

4. What = Mass murder. Who = Iraqi people. n/t

[Generic Other]

6. When was the last time a head of state was executed?

They always seem to die in their beds of old age...

[BertrandL]

7. Sadam's predecessor was, I think. EOM

[neebob]

5. As I recall, there was $100 million for war crimes experts

and another $100 million for tribunals or something like that in the $87 billion. I've been noticing how no one said anything about that and we didn't hear anything about war crimes until last week. I, too, would like to know how that money has been or will be spent.

[rumguy]

8. Whatever happens it has to involve the Iraqi government and

the Iraqis...

I'm sure some Freeper-types want to bring him back here to execute him. That would be a disaster.

[Junkdrawer]

9. They just set up tribunals to try former Ba'athists....

Prague, 11 December 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council this week set up a special tribunal to try former members of the Iraqi Ba'athist regime for crimes against humanity.

The creation of the tribunal, which will be staffed and led by Iraqi nationals, resulted from months of work. It will take many more months before the first trials actually start in Baghdad.

Iraqi Governing Council president Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim, in announcing the tribunal yesterday, said it was a historic achievement.

"This court will try cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from 17 July 1968 till 1 May 2003," al-Hakim said.

More...

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/12/11122003181030.asp

[Individualist]

11. Tried by a US Miliary Tribunal

He won't be executed until after November because Chimpy will parade him around as a trophy until then.

[Generic Other]

12. We have a spotty record where dictators are concerned

Didn't Marcos live out his life in exile in Hawaii? Noreiga's in some comfortable federal prison. Duvalier left Haiti for France. Pinochet in Spain...by and large such leaders get away with their crimes.

I read yesterday that Mrs. Hussein has all the money and is living in exile with the youngest son somewhere in Lebanon. She and Ismaelda Marcos can invite each other to tea.

on edit: I forgot to mention Kissenger. He's a protected war criminal too.

[Apollo]

15. after interrogation

He should be set up in his own room in the Fletcher Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings.

[leftofthedial]

13. i don't think he's been officially charged with anything by any one

he presumably commited atrocities as dictator, but no jurisdiction actually charged him with anything.

The Bush GOPNAC Cabal will probably try to reinterpret the UN resolution somehow to justify capital punishment.

[Mountainman]

14. What will the wing nuts do when he doesn't get tried for 9/11.

Most of the callers to C-Span this morning who support the war do so because Saddam is a terrorist and had something to do with 9/11 or he was behind it.

So they can't try him for 9/11 because he didn't cause it so what will happen to the wing nut myths about Saddam and 9/11?