http://onthescene.msnbc.com/baghdad/2006/11/saddam_verdict_.htmlThe final court session and verdict today were fast, direct and clear, but not clear at all.
In less than 10 minutes, Saddam Hussein was told he was guilty of crimes against humanity, but never exactly how or why.
Was it the witness testimony that proved Saddam's guilt?
Was it Saddam’s own acceptance in court of overall responsibility for the draconian punishment his regime carried out of the villagers of Dujail after a 1982 assassination attempt in the town? Was it documents the prosecution said Saddam signed ordering the deaths of Dujail residents that ultimately swayed the judges? We still do not know.
The full verdict, a document of several hundred pages, explaining how and why today’s judgment was reached was not released. U.S. officials said it should be ready by Thursday. So why issue the verdict today? U.S. court advisors told reporters today it was delayed mainly for technical reasons. All insist the verdict was not politically timed and that it was an Iraqi decision; there is no reason to doubt their word.
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