Salem Chalabi was picked by Bush’s national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice. In a secret directive issued in January and leaked to the public in March, Rice authorized a delegation of fifty lawyers, prosecutors and investigators to be sent to Iraq to prepare for Hussein’s trial. Chalabi is not only the prosecutor but chose the judge, whose identity is a secret.

In fairness to Robert Scheer, he’s right here. Chalabi was an ill-considered choice for reasons of politics even if he was on the level.

It is thus a huge stretch to call the proceedings a fair trial or an Iraqi-run affair. Men long on the US payroll are running the country and the trial; US troops are still guarding Hussein. And the United States even chose what images could be broadcast and told pool reporters they could not record Hussein’s voice. An unauthorized audiotape was, however, leaked to the media.

Earth to Bob – we had the right to try Saddam directly via a military court-martial under Geneva. Us, the Americans, by ourselves. Solo. So in fact, would the Iranians. Or the Kuwaitis. And yes, his own people.

Why is Scheer afraid to openly state *who * should try Saddam ? I gather he has an opinion here since he objects so strongly to the United states and non-Islamist, Non-Baathist Iraqis.

We have already grossly violated the standard of Nuremberg laid down by US Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson: “That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury, stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason.” But the four great nations Jackson was referring to, led by our own, were not guilty of committing aggression but rather of stopping it. The first principle of the Nuremberg trials was to hold nations accountable for crimes against peace.”

Jackson was one of the Nuremburg prosecutors so he is praising himself while forgetting about the vast number of Germans and tens of thousands of collaborators given summary justice at the time by the French and the Soviets. Speaking of the Soviets, they were partners in Hitler’s aggression against Poland, the Baltic states and Romania.

It is therefore fitting that the preliminary indictment holds Hussein responsible for his aggression against Kuwait, which precipitated the 1991 Gulf War. How disturbing that in the current war it was the United States that committed aggression by invading Iraq based on false premises, thereby violating the Nuremberg principle.

Judge not, lest ye be judged is Scripture not to be taken lightly.

Sure Bob. No prejudgement in your columns. Not a bit.

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