Cyndi Scarlett in Baghdad

I had the dubious “honor” - to attend the trial of Saddam Hussein, Chemical “Ali’ - and six other defendents today.

Security was extremely tight - none of which I want to describe in detail but included not one but three total body scans like some kind of bionic imaging for all attendees including the VIP’s (who I went with but am definately NOT one of) - suffice to say, he and the other participants in the trial are as well protected as I believe they can be, at least inside the court room. 

This is the second time Saddam is being tried.  The first trial ended with a guilty verdict and a  sentence of death by hanging. Currently, he and the co-defendants are being tried for the gassing of the Kurds in 1987.  Usually, I”m told there are witnesses in the morning and a review of documents in the afternoon.  Today however, was spent in reviewing documents. 

The docuemtns put before the court were chilling.  Memo after memo after memo usually between the then head of military intelligence (who is a defendent) and the President’s office outlining in detail the planning and execution of the use of chemical weapons.  I remember seeing a picture of a little Kurdish girl lying on the ground dead, perhaps some of you remember seeing that too.  Her little face kept flashing before my eyes as I listened to the reports being read of the number of deaths and casualties  and as I listened to the written words of Hussein telling the Minister of Defense to be sure to use the “special weapons” to maximum effect against the communists and Iranian sympathizers - which as the Lead Prosecutor reminded us meant the Kurdish people.  

Saddam sat there watching the entire proceedings quite dispassionately it seemed to me.  Later I asked the JAG if that was his usual demeanor.  She said yes - that after the verdict of the first trial, he has been quite unengaged in the proceedings.  Sometimes, he goes off in a rant that has nothing to do with the proceedings but rather are political messages.  He did not do this today.  I did not hear him speak.  It’s clear that “Chemical Ali” knows he’s fighting for his life.  He was up debating the prosecution within five minutes of the opening remarks.  The judge let him go on for a while.  He was trying to make a point that the documents that were being reviewed were being reveiwed out of context and therefore should be disregarded.  I thought the judge and prosecutor really kept their cool.  Eventually he was asked to sit down and told that there would be time for him to speak at the end of the review.  The defense sat there in silence.  Every once in a while, one would lean over and say something to the person sitting next to him - or someone would take a note - but they had nothing to say about what was being presented. 

I couldn’t help but wonder as I watched and listened via simultaneous translation what was going through the heads of the defendents.  I know that under our judicial system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty but how I wonder is the defense going to make a case for these men when the memo’s are there signed by the defendants. 

I’m told that some people believe this trial won’t be completed.  The result of the appeal is supposed to be coming down within a couple of days - and by law, the sentence has to be carried out within a 30 day period.  I’m aware there are high-level talks about when and where the hanging will take place.  It has to be public otherwise it is believed the Iraqi people won’t believe he was put to death.  I can’t imagine the Iraqi government hanging him anywhere but in the IZ.   The coming days should be interesting.

While I can’t say I enjoyed any part of my day today, I was acutely aware that I was seeing a very small piece of history being made. Seeing something that some day will be written about in history books.  Tends to make one feel very insignificant…

Blessings to all this Christmas season.

We’re back to innovative job creation in the IZ - but one can’t fault the USG for wasting money, no siree!

Our road cleaners are now using palm fronds and can be seen to be waving them back and forth across the roads here.  Can you imagine them reporting to work?  “What am I doing today?”  “You’re cleaning the streets.”  “Where’s my brush?”  “See those palm trees over there?”  “Pick one, shimmy up the trunk, pick yourself a frond and carry on with your duties.”  I thought the guys with brooms were a sorry sight….  I can’t fully explain what it’s like seeing grown men going down the road - dozens of them with palm fronds in their hands “sweeping” the road - or as my personal security manager calls it, “stroking the road.”  When they’re done, they just leave the palms on the road - I guess that’s OK - they’ll eventually become like the dust they were supposed to be sweeping up. 

I wonder, we see millions of $$ of equipment in here every day doing all kinds of things.  While I realize that this is about job creation more than anything,  if keeping the roads dust free is so important, wouldn’t one think that they could bring the big machines in here with brushes to do this?

I know I owe you all a very long blog about my coming and going here.  I just simply apologize.  I meet myself coming and going and find there is so much to do that I simply don’t have the time to sit down and thoughtfully write about some of the things that I am experiencing here.  Hence silly little blogs like this one!

I do promise that I will get around to it one of these days!

Peace to all,