Saddam Trial
One of Saddam's henchmen testified at his trial today. Awad al-Bander, a judge under the old regime testified that the 148 men executed by Saddam's thugs all got fair trials and confessed. In the Times Online:

A former judge from Saddam Hussein’s regime acknowledged sentencing 148 Shia Muslims to death in the 1980s, but insisted they were given a proper trial and had confessed to trying to assassinate the former Iraqi leader.

Unfortunately, a good number of them died during the "interrogation" they received before the "trial."

Jaafar al-Moussawi, the prosecutor, also presented documents shown previously to the court from the Mukhabarat intelligence agency at the time stating that some of the 148 sentenced to death had actually died during interrogation before they could be executed.

Al-Moussawi repeatedly asked al-Bandar how all the defendants could have appeared before the Revolutionary Court if some had already died. Al-Bandar insisted that all 148 were there, but finally threw up his hands, saying, "It is so strange and surprising that someone might die in interrogation?"

"Is it strange and surprising? Is that what you’re saying?" said [Judge] Abdel-Rahman in disbelief.

Here's how the Times Online describes the massacre:

Hundreds of people were arrested - including entire families, with women and young children - and detained for years. They have produced documents showing 10 juveniles - including ones as young as 11 and 13 years old - were among those sentenced to death. Dujail residents have testified before the court, saying they were tortured in prison, including women who said they were stripped naked and given electrical shocks.

Yes, you see Bush lied to get us into an unjust and immoral war so that we could bring monsters like this to justice.
- posted by Base10 @ 11:06 AM