Cable TV and Ramsey Clark
Base10 finally left the ranks of the Luddites and finally went and got cable television. Where Base10 lives, there are only two options: Time-Warner and RCN. Base10 opted for RCN, mainly because RCN carries the NFL Network while TW does not (at least not yet). Curiously, RCN doesn't have NY1--a mainstay for local news and politics--but this wasn't enough to deter Base10. Base10 also got the internet service along with cable. It's pretty good, but I got the slow plan and can see myself upgrading to the faster 10 Mps option (they even offer a 20Mps option, but I wonder how they can do that) in the near future. So far, so good, but I can't get rid of the DSL until I figure out what to do with my existing email address. Heck, I may even start hosting again.

Now I can be a newshead full-time! You know, flipping from CNN to Fox catching the saturation coverage of the latest trivial story. Base10's loss is of course his readers's gain. If he didn't have cable he would have missed this story. Communist sympathizer and former Johnson administration official Ramsey Clark showed once again that he is every dictator's best friend. He, of course, accused the US of rigging Saddam's trial and bemoaned its lack of "fairness." I quote:

Saddam's trial on charges of crimes against humanity was "a direct threat to international law, the United Nations, universal human rights and world peace," Clark said at a news conference. He demanded that proceedings be transferred from the Iraqi Special Tribunal to a new court that could work independently, free of prejudice.

Clark, who was attorney general under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967-1969, said the United States wanted the trial to "vindicate its invasion, to validate its occupation, and to make the world believe that the Iraqi people demanded that Saddam Hussein and leaders in his government be executed."

Clark has become known for his radical left-wing politics and for defending controversial figures, including ousted Liberian leader Charles Taylor, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, who died in April, and Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, a leader in the Rwandan genocide.

Saddam's trial has been rocked by the murders of two defense lawyers and one judge. It is currently adjourned until May 15 but Clark said the defense would seek at least another month to review documents.

So far in the trial, he said Saddam's defense lawyers have been denied exculpatory documents and evidence, as well as witnesses statements and court transcripts.

The judges have either been Kurds or Shi'ites, and the defendants with one or two exceptions Sunnis, he said. "It's a sectarian persecution, if you will."

Clark said a fair trial in the midst of such widespread violence sweeping the country was impossible.

Well, I guess that's what you get when you agree to defend a homicidal maniac. Saddam should get as much consideration as he gave the 148 people he massacred. I'm glad Mr. Clark is so worked up. Maybe he should go complain to his friends a the WWP and ANSWER. Maybe they could organize some protests in opposition to the actions of the Iraqi government. Hey, now they can!
- posted by Base10 @ 2:57 PM