Monday - February 27, 2006

Cheeseburger To Go!

When last we left our Doofus Dictator he had pitched a hissy fit and declared he would starve himself to death by going on a hunger strike. That was eleven days ago and sure enough Ol’ Sodomy didn’t have the guts to go through with his threat. You might say he was broken by “the mother of all hunger pangs”.

Fair enough. Feed that sorry SOB a plate of pork chops and ham hocks. Then take his sorry, whining ass outside and shoot him. This is the last time I’m gonna give this order so make it so. Don’t make me come over there and pop a cap in this miserable excuse for a human being for you ....

Saddam Ends Hunger Strike Before Trial Resumption
Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:09 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters)

Saddam Hussein has ended a hunger strike he began earlier this month to protest against the conduct of his trial, his chief lawyer said on Monday, a day before the ousted Iraqi leader is due back in court. Saddam, on trial since October for crimes against humanity, complicated already chaotic proceedings at the last hearing on February 14 by saying he and seven co-accused were refusing food.

“The president maintained his hunger strike for 11 days but was forced to end it for health reasons,” Khalil Dulaimi, who met Saddam for seven hours in Baghdad on Sunday, told Reuters. The 68-year-old former president has accused the court of forcing him to attend hearings that he wished to boycott.

Dulaimi said U.S. prison officials overseeing Saddam’s custody had contacted defense lawyers over the hunger strike to “prevent any adverse health impact.” He said the ex-leader had lost some weight but gave no details.

Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said Saddam’s refusal to eat was in protest at being kept separate from his co-defendants in holding cells at the court before proceedings began.

“During the last two sessions he was isolated from other defendants before attending the court room,” he said. “He was put in a special room with basic services.” Moussawi said court officials would change the arrangement. Dulaimi said Saddam showed “high morale” when he met him alone to deliberate defense strategy after his lawyers walked out of the trial last month in protest at court proceedings.

The defense team was banned from meeting Saddam after the walkout, but chief judge Raouf Abdel Rahman has lifted the ban to enable Saddam’s lawyers to return for Tuesday’s hearing. Saddam’s defense team had accused Abdel Rahman of bias and had said it would not return to court until he resigns. Dulaimi said he would ask the court to postpone the next session, citing worsening security in Iraq. More than 200 people have been killed since a Shi’ite mosque was bombed on Wednesday.

“We hope the court will ... postpone tomorrow’s hearing for the sake of preserving the lives of lawyers, witnesses and everyone concerned,” Dulaimi said. The trial has been buffeted by the killing of two defense lawyers and charges of political bias. Two months ago the previous chief judge quit, complaining of government meddling.

Prosecutors will now devote two days to reading documents from Saddam’s era in power, the last evidence that will be heard before specific charges are formulated, court sources said. The memoranda, letters and court orders will allegedly link Saddam and his co-accused to the deaths of 148 Shi’ites from the town of Dujail in reprisal for a 1982 attempt on his life there.

The tribunal is then expected to recess for another two to three weeks while are drawn up. Dulaimi said the defense would present a formal case against Abdel Rahman on the grounds that his Kurdish background meant it was difficult for him to show impartiality. Saddam, who ruled Iraq for three decades, faces death by hanging if convicted.

Posted by The Skipper     on 02/27/2006 at 12:47 PM   
Filed Under: • Iraq •  
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
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4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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