Idiot French Lawyer Wants to Defend Saddam Hussien in Trial

Article Right Here:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/me...ney/index.html

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(CNN) -- A French attorney who has represented other notorious figures said Sunday that he will defend ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in any future trial.

Jacques Verges said he received a letter from Saddam's nephew, Ali Barzan al-Tikriti, asking him to take the case. Eleven other lawyers of various nationalities will work with him, Verges said.

"The nephew of Saddam Hussein designated me as the lead lawyer to defend Saddam," Verges said.

He said he is also representing Tariq Aziz, the former deputy prime minister of Iraq.

Among witnesses he plans to call to testify, Verges said, are Western leaders who backed Saddam's government during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

It's not the first time Verges has defended a notorious client. In 1987 Verges represented Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, who was convicted for committing crimes against humanity.

Verges also was a longtime friend of Pol Pot, the infamous Khmer Rouge leader who was the architect of Cambodia's 1975-1979 "killing fields" regime. Pol Pot died in April 1998.

Saddam was captured December 13 near his hometown of Tikrit and has remained in U.S.-led coalition custody in Iraq. U.S. officials have described Saddam as being less than cooperative during interrogations.


Saddam Hussein was arrested December 13 and is being held by the U.S.-led coalition.
"He's turned out a pretty wily guy who seems to be enjoying the give and take with his interlocutors," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said earlier this month. "He sure thinks he's smarter than everyone else, that's for sure."

In early March, a team of U.S. Justice Department officials traveled to Iraq to start organizing evidence that could be used against Saddam once he goes on trial.

The team includes 50 prosecutors, investigators and administrative staff of various Justice Department entities, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The team will assist the Iraqis in trying to sort through any evidence that can be used in war crimes trials against former regime officials, including the former Iraqi president.
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Mere words can not describe how much I *hate* this Jacques Verges! He's obviously Anti-Israel ( http://www.idf.il/iraq/english/default.stm ) Blood thirsty, and a greedy scum bucket! If the Iraqi People don't want Saddam back, they should pick up their Pitchforks and Torches and pay this buttwipe a little visit!

Sorry, I'm a little angry. I'm not trying to flamebait.

Edit: Wednesday March 31, 2004: I've come to Realise I was wrong. This guy is probably going to send Saddam straight to Death Row.

[ 03-31-2004, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: The Whackmiester ]

[Timber Loftis]

Somebody's got to defend him. At least Verges has a solid losing record. [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

[johnny]

Everyone has the right to an attorney, including saddam.

[skywalker]

Yep, what good is a system of justice if we get to choose who gets a lawyer and who gets execution without representation?

Mark

[Sir Taliesin]

This guy's doing us all a service. Fat chance that he'll get world leaders to testify though. Not going to happen. Of course, I'm sure he'll want to call Dubya to testify as well.

[Skunk]

Why is he an idiot for wanting to ensure a fair trial?

Many relatives of the lockerbie bombing feel that the trial of the 'perpetrators' was unfair and produced a 'political' result. They do not feel that they recieved all of the answers and, as a result they were left with too many unanswered questions and the feeling that the 'real' perpetrators may not be behind bars.

A fair trial is in the interest of the victims and their families.

Originally posted by Skunk: Why is he an idiot for wanting to ensure a fair trial? Many relatives of the lockerbie bombing feel that the trial of the 'perpetrators' was unfair and produced a 'political' result. They do not feel that they recieved all of the answers and, as a result they were left with too many unanswered questions and the feeling that the 'real' perpetrators may not be behind bars. A fair trial is in the interest of the victims and their families.

Because he is defending a BLOODTHIRSTY TYRANT!!! Let him loose and what's he gonna do? Three things: Kill, Kill, and KILL!!! He deserves a taste of his own medicine!

[Grojlach]

Originally posted by The Whackmiester: Because he is defending a BLOODTHIRSTY TYRANT!!! Let him loose and what's he gonna do? Three things: Kill, Kill, and KILL!!! He deserves a taste of his own medicine!

Maybe you should take the red pills instead of the blue ones.

[ 03-29-2004, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: Grojlach ]

[Sir Taliesin]

Still he should be tried in a court of law. The odds of him actually walking are very poor at best! He'll also an example to others of ilk about what is waiting for them someday. Try him.

[Yorick]

For all the conjecture on the lawyers grand motives of true justive for all, it would seem his motives are far baser. Money, fame, and an opportunity to express his political views against Donald Rumsfield on a stage where the world will be listening. Even if Saddam loses badly, the lawyer still wins.