All I can say is, they better hope Saddam didn't keep his receipts
Hussein's Trial Offers Both Peril and Promise to Iraq and U.S.
By SOMINI SENGUPTA and JOHN F. BURNS
BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 30 — When Saddam Hussein is charged with crimes against humanity in an Iraqi court on Thursday, much more will be at stake than his own fate.
For the people of this country, the Iraqi Special Tribunal could open the door for a thorough accounting of the crimes committed by his notoriously repressive government.
For the fledgling Iraqi government, it could offer an opportunity to shore up confidence among a weary citizenry.
For the Bush administration, known for its dislike of international criminal tribunals, it could mean a chance to establish a war-crimes court it can hold up as a model.
Mr. Hussein appeared before an Iraqi court on Wednesday, after being held in American custody for seven months, but his formal trial is unlikely to begin before next year, Iraqi officials said.
With so much at stake, the proceedings carry as much promise as peril. Already, questions have come up about whether the Iraqi Special Tribunal, relying on Iraqi law and American legal expertise, can produce credible, transparent proceedings or whether the result will amount to little more than victor's justice — or victim's vengeance.
On the one hand, the trial of the former dictator could deliver a degree of empowerment to a country still reeling from the excesses of Mr. Hussein's rule. On the other, it could present the defendant with a political platform of his own.
