Truthout calls BS on 'Saddam Handover' story

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/0630041.shtml

Editor's Note | The editors here at truthout are honestly confused by this announcement. Saddam Hussein is to be 'officially' handed over to Iraq by America so he can answer for his crimes...but he will continue to remain completely in the custody of America? We see this as yet another example of the Bush administration's desire to paint a veneer of 'liberty' over the mess in Iraq, said veneer meant to conceal the administration's true intent: to run Iraq by remote control, and to keep the oil/reconstruction gravy train wide open to their corporate donors and friends.

We at truthout heartily support holding a trial for Saddam Hussein, but let it be a real trial. Let it be a trial held in the best traditions of American jurisprudence. Let it be a trial where no fact is left aside or discarded out of hand because it is uncomfortable for American officials named Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Cheney. Let the witness list reflect the true roots of Hussein and his regime.

We find it incomprehensible that control over the ultimate fate of Saddam Hussein has been handed by the Bush administration to Salem Chalabi. Salem Chalabi, is, of course, the nephew of Ahmad Chalabi, who has been accused of being a spy for the nation of Iran. Ahmad Chalabi's ability to give damaging American intelligence secrets to Iran was empowered by many of the same Bush administration officials who would likely appear on the aforementioned witness list. The conflict of interest is appalling.

Let there be a real trial. Let the facts be allowed to stand on the record. Let justice be done. - TO

Saddam to Be Charged by Iraqi Judge on Thursday
By Alistair Lyon
Reuters

Tuesday 29 June 2004

Baghdad - Saddam Hussein will be handed over to Iraqi justice Wednesday, two days after the country regained sovereignty from Washington, but U.S. soldiers will still guard him to ensure he does not escape.

...more...

[prodigal_green]

1. Another case of

"sleight of handover"

(from guest on Laura Flanders' show on Sunday evening).

[Tellurian]

2. Been sort of busy the last few days...and read about the handover in

passing.. What does this handover exactly mean?

Saddam will be tried in absentia?

[jean]

3. All of the blood that has been spilled in the name of 'getting' Saddam

Hussein . . . and now bush is going to cough him up to a proven liar, traitor and thief?

Oops, my bad.

Chalabi is like butter to bush - the man is his mirror image except many times more intelligent.

[anakie]

4. Is Bush back in the US yet?

I can almost envision the little shit arriving in Baghdad this morning and hand him over personally. He is petty enough to do that.

[WilliamPitt]

5. .

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Hey, if the Bushies want to make a martyr out of a scumbag. . .

and have the Iraqis blow it back in their faces - I say bring it on.

:nuke:

[Blue_Roses]

7. this makes no sense to me

I posted a thread about this yesterday. We"liberate" a country from a brutal dictator, and then we give him back so they can have a "trial"...give me a break...what trial...there will be no trial...

This would be laughable if it wasn't so despicable. The way this administration manipulates things to it's advantage is just outrageous.

This isn't about Saddam, it's about control.

[kentuck]

8. Haven't you heard ??

I now have "legal" custody... I just have no idea where he is??

[BiggJawn]

9. I guess you guys haven't been through a divorce with kids...

This is not all that foreign to any man who's had some judge tell him he has "joint custody", but yet he still has to dance on his ex-wife's string to see his kids.

Yeah, the Iraqis have "legal custody", but the US still holds Saddam, and how much you wanna bet they wouldn't give him up if the Iraqis decided to drop the charges or release him on bond?

Sounds like "Joint Custody" to me...The kid lives with mom, but dad still pays all the bills...

[Cocoa]

10. news accounts of this are deceptive

On TV, the stories have given the impression that he's being handed over to the Iraqis.

The part about how the U.S. will retain "physical custody" is reported at the end of the story, as an afterthought.

I'd like to see a poll about who the public thinks is holding Saddam, the U.S. or the Iraqis.