Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on
Monday Saddam Hussein will get a fair trial in Iraq, where a fledgling
democracy must show the international community and its citizens that it has
a fair judicial system.
He said the trial of the former Iraqi president for crimes against
humanity, which opened on Oct. 19 and adjourned until Nov. 28, should move
forward.
U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam's government in 2003 after invading
Iraq, which the Bush administration had said posed a threat because it had
stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found in
postwar Iraq.
"There will be a fair trial. The question is whether or not there's
the courage to go ahead with the trial," Bush said in an interview with Al
Arabiya television.
"And I think the people of Iraq would like to see Saddam Hussein
tried for the crimes he committed," Bush said, according to a transcript
released by the White House.
Bush said he did not support an international trial for Saddam
because it was important for Iraq to have a justice system that earned the
confidence of its people.
"This is a new democracy, and part of a democracy is to have a fair
judicial system. And I thought it was very important for the ... citizens of
Iraq to conduct the trial in such a way that it earned international
respect," Bush said.
A defense lawyer for one of Saddam's seven co-defendants was
abducted and killed last week after the trial began. Saddam and his
co-defendants are being tried in the killing of 148 Shi'ite men from the
town of Dujail.
"I think the trial needs to go forward," Bush said.
On Iraq's planned December election, Bush said: "The United States
will not pick a winner. That's going to be up to the Iraqi people. Our
mission will be to encourage all people to participate in the process."
Monday Saddam Hussein will get a fair trial in Iraq, where a fledgling
democracy must show the international community and its citizens that it has
a fair judicial system.
He said the trial of the former Iraqi president for crimes against
humanity, which opened on Oct. 19 and adjourned until Nov. 28, should move
forward.
U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam's government in 2003 after invading
Iraq, which the Bush administration had said posed a threat because it had
stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found in
postwar Iraq.
"There will be a fair trial. The question is whether or not there's
the courage to go ahead with the trial," Bush said in an interview with Al
Arabiya television.
"And I think the people of Iraq would like to see Saddam Hussein
tried for the crimes he committed," Bush said, according to a transcript
released by the White House.
Bush said he did not support an international trial for Saddam
because it was important for Iraq to have a justice system that earned the
confidence of its people.
"This is a new democracy, and part of a democracy is to have a fair
judicial system. And I thought it was very important for the ... citizens of
Iraq to conduct the trial in such a way that it earned international
respect," Bush said.
A defense lawyer for one of Saddam's seven co-defendants was
abducted and killed last week after the trial began. Saddam and his
co-defendants are being tried in the killing of 148 Shi'ite men from the
town of Dujail.
"I think the trial needs to go forward," Bush said.
On Iraq's planned December election, Bush said: "The United States
will not pick a winner. That's going to be up to the Iraqi people. Our
mission will be to encourage all people to participate in the process."