The Moose celebrates the trial of a tyrant. There have been many errors committed in the conduct of this war. But this is an event to celebrate. The first tyrant in the Arab world has been brought to trial. It may be the beginning of a new day.
Whatever one's views on the wisdom of the war, this is a good day. A former tyrant is in the dock. The man who started two wars and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of his own people faces justice. You don't have to be a conservative, neo-conservative, hawk, Republican or Bush lover to love this moment. Indeed, progressives should celebrate when a mass murderer must meet his fate.
Many have quibbled with the trial of Saddam Hussein. Some who normally promote the trial of war criminals, take offense with the perceived flaws in the Iraqi justice system. Some believe that it is a Shiite/Kurd vendetta against the Sunnis. Heaven forbid! Those populations have suffered immeasurably over the past twenty years and now some urge that we must be hyper-sensitive to not offend their former oppressors.
The souls of Halabja who died in agony must feel differently. The Marsh Arabs must be satisfied. The long suffering Kurds must get immense pleasure watching one of their own sit in judgment of Saddam. And progressives who stand with the oppressed should be pleased.
Anne Applebaum writes in the Washington Post,
"The fact that the court is starting with a smaller incident, the 1982 massacre of more than 140 Shiite men in the village of Dujail, is a good sign: The investigators do have witnesses, there is documentary evidence, and the story of Dujail is easier to tell than that of more complicated crimes, such as Hussein's genocide campaign against the Kurds or the Shiites of the south. Far from rushing or politicizing the trial, today's hearings will probably be followed by a delay, so more evidence can be gathered...