On Sunday, the Iraqi High Tribunal showed the world that they are serious about making Democracy work. It found Saddam Hussein guilty of crimes against humanity. The sentence: death by hanging.
The evidence against Hussein was overwhelming. He and his henchmen were found guilty of rounding up and killing 148 Shiite Muslims from the northern Iraqi town of Dujail in 1982, in retaliation for an assassination attempt on Hussein there.
Hussein stood trial in his own country and was judged by his own people. That is a historical first and a huge accomplishment for this fledgling democracy.
Bringing Hussein to justice demanded immense courage; all those involved faced constant danger. During the yearlong trial, three defense attorneys were killed. The brother-in-law of the presiding judge was gunned down. Incredibly, some 200 relatives of victims of Dujail were reported murdered. Several families of witnesses had to be moved into the U.S.-protected Green Zone.
A second trial is under way. Hussein is accused of genocide for his role in a 1987-88 campaign against Iraqi Kurds, in which about 180,000 people were killed. All told, Hussein's regime is believed to have killed at least 300,000 Iraqis.
Hussein's death sentence probably won't be carried out soon. There are appeals and more trials. Iraqis have waited for justice. Now they have it. Ending the reign of one of the world's most vicious, brutal men.
Later,
Kenaz
