Saddam trial outbursts, heard but not seen
People watching the trial on TV today are going to hear outbursts from Saddam Hussein and, more often, from his half-brother Barazan Ibrahim, but not see much of them.
Watch closely and you'll notice whenever there are outbursts, the camera quickly focuses on the chief judge.
This is no accident.
The camera operators in the court, controlled by the U.S.-funded tribunal, have been instructed to cut to the judge whenever necessary "for security reasons."
According to a western official familiar with the case, this measure is designed to prevent the accidental exposure of lawyers, judges, guards or witnesses who don't want to be identified. The court also wants to prevent Saddam from inciting violence.
But is that all that is going on? Critics in the Arab world accuse the court of censorship.
Saddam, media militant
EMAIL THIS
advertisement
Slide Show
- Life beyond the violence
Suicide attacks and murders due to sectarian conflict continue around Iraq. See how residents live their lives amid the attacks.
Read the Nightly News blog
