From Asia Times
Also Information Clearing House
Occupied Iraq has virtually no security, electricity, water or jobs. Last Saturday, instead of basic necessities for a decent life, Iraqis had a referendum - already suspected of massive fraud - on a constitution few have even seen.Also Information Clearing House
Starting on Wednesday, Iraqis, and the rest of the world for that matter, get a running soap opera - the trial of Saddam Hussein, under whose regime, for all its terror, and then 12 years of economic sanctions, Iraqis at least had security, electricity, water and jobs.
This "trial of the century" - or at least the early 21st century - starts at a secret Green Zone location, by an anonymous court,and under extreme, US military-imposed security measures. It's a made in USA affair - in administrative and financial terms.
The court, the training and the whole proceedings cost US$75 million - courtesy of US taxpayers (the budget was allocated in May 2004). About 300 people - paid by the Americans - work on the trial machinery. The five "secret" Iraqi judges - Shi'ites and Kurds, no Sunnis - are paid by the Americans, live inside the Green Zone and are protected by the Americans from being kidnapped or killed.
