I think it will be a nightmare. I think the security will become an issue. I heard they were doing retinal scans to let you enter. I also read that if he is convicted, he will be hanged!!! They do not have to wait on the rest of his charges/trials to be performed. We should take a cue from that. For example, the sniper case. Quit wasting money and fry the guy!
From what I heard they're planning a 3 month delay.
But when it DOES finally get underway I think it will be rough. Although, I don't think the terrorists really care about Saddam, they just want to make us look inept.
I am such a hermit. What did he pull this morning?
No you are not, it happened this am!
Hussein refuses to give name
Throughout the three-and-a-half hour proceeding, Hussein maintained a combative demeanor.
Asked his full name by the presiding judge, Hussein refused to give it. "You know me," Hussein said at one point. "If you're an Iraqi, then you know."
"Mr. Saddam, we ask you only now to prove your full name, title and profession. Then you will be given a chance to talk," Amin said.
"Who are you and what are you?" Hussein asked. "I need to know."
"We are the criminal court in Iraq," Amin answered. "So please -- these issues have nothing to do with you, sir."
Hussein complained that he was kept waiting for hours and was denied pen and paper.
"I don't harbor any hatred toward any of you," Hussein said. "But holding onto the rights, and out of respect for the Iraqi people for choosing me ... I say I don't answer this, what is called a court, with all due respect, and I reserve my constitutional right as the president of Iraq.
"I do not recognize the body that has authorized you and I don't recognize this aggression. I do not respond to this so-called court, with all due respect."
Later, when Amin identified him as the former president, Hussein snapped, "I said I'm the president of the republic of Iraq. I did not say deposed."
Contentious exchange
During a recess, there was a contentious exchange between Hussein and his Iraqi guards.
A couple of guards tried to take his arms and walk him during a recess. He wrestled his arms away and glared at the guards.
"It wasn't noisy and it wasn't with much resistance but he stared them down and walked out with them on either side rather than them handling him," reported CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
At the end of a recess, as the judges entered the courtroom, everyone stood up except for Hussein.
Hussein also was seen talking jovially with defendants, comrades he probably hasn't seen for a long time.
For who he is, his actions made sense. I'm not surprised at all. What's the judge going to do, put him in contempt of court (that's what it's called, right?)? I agree with you on the closed circuit idea.
