USA: Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General and member of Saddam Hussein's defence team, says a verdict in the trial could affect U.S. elections

Record ID: 644879

  • Title: USA: Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General and member of Saddam Hussein's defence team, says a verdict in the trial could affect U.S. elections
  • Date: 2nd November 2006
  • Summary: (W5) WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 1, 2006) (REUTERS) RAMSEY CLARK, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A MEMBER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DEFENCE TEAM, ENTERING PRESS ROOM REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAMSEY CLARK, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A MEMBER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DEFENSE TEAM, SAYING: "The other side is that we are an instant society, you know, our convictions are very shallow and transitory these days. You will have electronic media all day Sunday and lots of people watch all day Sunday. You will have electronic and print media all day Monday and the election is on Tuesday and it could make a difference. But heaven help us if one of the one of the most outrageous abuses of what can be called a judicial process in history - for show would also affect the outcome of an election. So much for democracy, it's not worth much is it."
  • Embargoed: 17th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAMGTA3D66IZGPZY1MIM3Y3I4Z
  • Story Text: A verdict in the trial of Saddam Hussein on November 5th could affect the outcome of U.S. congressional elections, said Ramsey Clark on Wednesday (November 1), a former U.S. Attorney General and more recently a member of Saddam Hussein's defence team.
    "You will have electronic media all day Sunday and lots of people watch all day Sunday. You will have electronic and print media all day Monday and the election is on Tuesday and it could make a difference," said Clark at a press briefing in Washington.
    "But heaven help us if one of the one of the most outrageous abuses of what can be called a judicial process in history - for show would also affect the outcome of an election. So much for democracy, it's not worth much is it," he added.
    Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein is due to hear a verdict and a possible death sentence at his trial for crimes against humanity involving Shi'ites on November 5.
    Saddam, his cousin "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid, and five other commanders are on trial for their roles in the 1988 Anfal (Spoils of War) campaign against Kurds in northern Iraq which prosecutors says killed 180,000 people, many of them gassed.
    All the defendants have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Saddam and Majid face the additional, graver charges of genocide.
    Saddam, ousted in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, has justified his campaign against Kurdish guerrillas as a legitimate military operation at a time when Kurdish rebels had sided with then arch-enemy Iran during the Iraq-Iran war.
    The chief prosecutor has said Sunday's session may be delayed, pushing it till after the Nov. 7 U.S. congressional elections. Saddam could be hanged if convicted but any appeal could drag on amid other trials he may yet face.
    Since joining Saddam's defence team Clark has called the trial unfair and illegal.
    "But it will be one of the biggest blows to international justice and American justice ever because it is worse than 'lynch law'. It's the corruption of justice to kill your enemy," answered Clark when asked what his opinion would be if the court sentenced Saddam to death.
    Clark will travel back to Baghdad on Thursday, November 2.
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