It's Enough to Make You Weep

From Reuters, naturally:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three days before Saddam Hussein goes on trial for crimes against humanity, human rights groups have raised profound concerns about the independence of the court trying him and whether it meets international standards.

Among other issues, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have expressed unease about limits on the ability of the accused to mount a defense, the burden of proof, political sway over the court and use of the death penalty.

What if there is no defense against the charges that Saddam Hussein committed mass murder? After all, there is little doubt that the burden of proof that the murders took place will be met.

Saddam and seven others are due to appear in court on October 19 on charges of premeditated murder in the deaths of more than 140 Shi'ite men from the village of Dujail, north of Baghdad, following a failed attempt on the then-president's life in 1982.

Are the two human rights organizations arguing that since Saddam was held supreme power he was exempt from the moral laws that bind civilized men? Or are they simply saying he should be slapped on the wrist for being a bad boy, and set free?

Saddam is being tried by his peers, his fellow Iraqis. They will be bound by Iraqi law. That the law has changed since Saddam left office is just too bad.

Where were Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International when Saddam was gassing Kurds? Where were their protests when the stories leaked out of his perversions and tortures, and those of his darling sons?

It didn't reach their level of alarm, obviously.