The trial of Saddam Hussein started today, with a rocky start. Not much more than defiance and delay were accomplished today. Hussein refused to recognize the court. The court recessed until Nov 28. Iraqis watched the proceedings, divided once more by loyalties to nations and traditions, and the absolute need for peace and prosperity.
I am not much interested in Hussein, since he was the President of another country - one of which I am not only not a citizen, but that my country had no legal right to invade. I wish that the US invasion of Iraq had been done differently, as an international effort to depose a brutal dictator who had broken international laws against the use of torture, chemical weapons and wars of aggression.
cross posted at Political Porn
I am, however, highly interested in the conduct of my own country. As a citizen of the American republic, it is my duty to be concerned about (and to voice concerns over) the conduct of my government. And it has behaved badly - right down to its trial against Hussein.
The United States has lost its chance to stand against the kind of regime that was under Hussein. We lost that chance when we firebombed Iraqi cities, when we invaded in an act of aggression, when we lied about our reasons for invading Iraq and when we supported Hussein's brutal government when it suited the short-term interests of the most greedy amongst us.
We are left with a victor's court. And Hussein knows this. His refusal to recognize the court can only mean one thing: Hussein's trial will be a trial as much against him as it be against us. This marks a huge lose for the people of the world, because someone as brutal as Hussein should know no refuge. And yet, thanks for the reckless and illegal actions of the United States, his refuge is our government. What a shame.
My only hope is that the people of Iraq can do better than the people of United States. That they can select leaders who will pull the country out of civil war. That they can use justice for justice, and not for show and display of power. That they can resolve the peace in good time to see American soldiers go.
cross posted at Political Porn