They just got a different tool to use than we do: They kill innocent lives to achieve objectives. That's what they do. And they're good. They get on the TV screens and they get people to ask questions about, well, you know, this, that or the other. I mean, they're able to kind of say to people: Don't come and bother us, because we will kill you. Bush - Joint News Conference with Blair - 28 July '06

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Saddam judge: 26 defense witnesses plenty

ap: The judge declared an end to the defense phase of Saddam Hussein's trial on Tuesday, shrugging off protests from the former Iraqi leader's lawyers that they have not had a fair chance to present their case and want to put more witnesses on the stand.

The nearly 8-month-old trial now moves into closing arguments, with the prosecution starting Monday, followed by the defense starting July 10. That means the judges could call a recess as early as mid-July to consider verdicts in the case against Saddam and seven of his former regime members for alleged crimes against humanity.

The eight could face execution by hanging if convicted on charges they ordered and carried out a crackdown on Shiites in the town of Dujail in the 1980s, arrested hundreds including women and children, tortured some to death and altogether killed 148 people accused of a shooting attack on Saddam in the town. Read more