Iraq Round Up: Saddam Goes on Trial and More on Elections

Saddam goes on trial tomorrow and WaPost notes PM Ibrahim al-Jaafari hopes that it will be a speedy trial. WashTimes also quotes the Iraqi PM who mentioned that there would be no tears for the deposed despot. Both Washington based papers mention that the PM lost several family members to Saddam henchmen. NYT gives a different perspective mentioning that the special tribunal will have a narrow focus but will still probably sentence Saddam to death. NYT also gives voice to critics who feel that the model to follow is the Milosevic trial currently underway in The Hague. You would think that the lesson from the three year circus in The Hague would be to avoid a repeat performance, which is exactly what WaPost says is the lesson the Iraqis have drawn. On the election front NYT reports that lopsided support for the constitution in Shiite and Kurd areas is drawing interest from election officials. Finally the WaPost has a follow up on air raids conducted on Ramadi. Locals insist that more civilians than insurgents were killed, the military begs to differ. It seems somewhat absurd for the military to deny that civilians were killed in this action or any other insurgent action. You hate to see children killed but the insurgents and the population are the ones that brought that tragedy on themselves. As long as places like Ramadi overwhelmingly support these terrorists they should expect to suffer the consequences.