Not so chemical after all
There was a time when the mere presence of "Chemical Ali" in a room made Iraqis shiver; after all he was the person who allegedly gassed the Kurds in northern Iraq in 1988 and he also happens to be Saddam’s cousin.
Chemical Ali was the military man Saddam used to frighten the Shiites in the south as if he were the monster in the closet; a man used to having people come up to him and beg for his approval simultaneously hoping to avoid his wrath.
Today in court, stripped of his power and military uniform, he stood to face the consequences of his actions and he seemed very different.
Dissipating
Even though he still does not acknowledge the court as a legitimate one - and the court’s legitimacy is not our concern here - Chemical Ali addressed the judge and said "you represent the fair and honorable Iraqi justice system."
The judge then dismissed his remarks and ordered him to refrain from making such statements in the future.
It was pathetic to see Chemical Ali do that, to see a man who held so much power and used it with arrogance and ruthlessness not behave with any self-respect and end up groveling before the judge. I guess Chemical Ali is dissipating.
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I guess the thought of death and/or isolation makes cowards of us all. We just expect people who have portrayed courage holding a knife would at least dignify themselves by displaying it without the weapon.. but then it boils down to human nature; and human nature dictates that one day the opressed will opress the opressor
Serene Serhan (Sent Sep 13, 2006 4:04:44 PM)
He's smarter than Saddam, who remains defiant. Or perhaps he thinks he has an out...Saddam knows he does not and is keeping his head up.
While Ali's mass killings are nothing like the rape and murder of a 14-year-old, perhaps Ali thinks he can use the ol' "just following orders" routine. I mean, the US and the US's puppet judge certainly play fast and loose with the rules of warfare...
Sean, Torrington CT (Sent Sep 14, 2006 10:09:31 AM)
The man of the day (then ) chemicalali how sad now the table as turn it is on his side now that he is the one now SHIVERING not the people who he use to trouble persicute and then tarcher, how sad when the mighty falls.
samuel robinson jamaica west indies (Sent Sep 15, 2006 3:54:30 PM)
He deserves the harshest punishment they can give him, no matter what he says to the judge.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Sep 17, 2006 3:17:13 AM)
I guess you need to ask yourself some Questions " Is Iraq better off today than it was a year ago"?
"Is Iraq better off now than before the U.S. occupation"?
"Is the USA better off now"?
"Or should we have spent all of the Irag war money beefing up the Coast Guard"?
Mach10 (Sent Sep 18, 2006 12:02:25 PM)
Well, he can say he was just following orders, can't he? Just like our soldiers murdering innocent people. It is Sadam that must be held responsible just like Mr. Bush should be held responsible for our soldiers actions. There is no difference here at all... None.
robert Fresquez (Sent Sep 19, 2006 7:58:28 PM)
Saddam and Chemical Ali are very lucky to have a trial and be able to sleep and eat 3 or more meals a day. Most Iraqis don't have access to health care, not safe on the road or at home, and out of work, but those criminals are safe, have electricity all day and medical care. I wish that the US stop controlling the court procedures and let Iraqis have their way with Saddam. Iraq wants to start new chapter and saddam is from the ugly past, they need to turn this page and get over with it.
It was dictatorship in Iraq, Saddam was the dictator, there are mass graves, invaded two countries, gas ed the kurds and slaughtered Iraqis in the south, case is over. For God sake Sadddam's gov. is so sick that they video taped executions, torture and rape. What else need to be proven.. how much proof you need to convict a creminal. Get OVER WITH IT, let victems and families move on with their life. Iraqis are tired of watching Saddams ugly face every other week.
Saleem, Canada (Sent Sep 20, 2006 1:53:06 PM)
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