The long-awaited trial of Saddam Hussein began today.
The defendant was taken from his prison cell outside Baghdad, escorted under heavy guard through streets cleared of citizens and lined with soldiers, and brought to the former Baath Party headquarters building where the trial is to be held. A massive American security operation surrounded the event, which according to the New York Times included concrete blast walls, razor wire, high-tech 360-degree body-scanning machines, an American Abrams tank at the courthouse gate, and American attack helicopters and jet fighters maintaining vigil above. Iraqis everywhere gathered around their television sets, riveted by the impending spectacle of their long-time dictator finally standing trial for crimes against humanity.
The stage was set.
The trial was then continued until next month.
The defendant was then taken from the former Baath Party headquarters building where the trial is to be held, escorted under heavy guard through streets cleared of citizens and lined with soldiers, and brought to his prison cell outside Baghdad. A massive American security operation surrounded the event, which according to the New York Times included concrete blast walls, razor wire, high-tech 360-degree body-scanning machines, an American Abrams tank at the prison gate, and American attack helicopters and jet fighters maintaining vigil above. Iraqis everywhere turned off their television sets, no longer riveted by the spectacle of their long-time dictator finally standing trial for crimes against humanity.
The stage will be set again in November.