First, I really do not like all this attention on Saddam's trial. I care more about the legal rights of thousands of other Iraqis than for the right of this bloody dictator. One Iraqi intellectual (Fakhri Karim) suggested as a punishment that Saddam be let to roam the streets of Iraq protected for one year: just that his arrogant self would finally realize how hated he is by ordinary Iraqis. But the trial did not prove to be the propaganda bonanza that the US aimed it to be. It showed Saddam to be in control of the proceeding, given the inept judge that they appointed. And the Saddamist Ba`thists seem to have been energized by his performance and are now (according to Arabic press) urging Raghd Saddam Husayn (if she takes time away from her busy high living in Amman) to lead the Ba`th "government-in-exile." The Jordanian government would not allow her of course. And she is still in denial, defending her father. And I cannot stand the slew of Arab lawyers (including the daughter of the Libyan dictator (new friend of Bush and Blair) who has a legal degree from the Sorbonne) who are energetically volunteering to defend Saddam and denying already all accusations of his war (and peace-) crimes. Those Jordanian lawyers who are volunteering should find political prisoners in Jordan to defend instead. And the puppet Minister of Justice in Iraq seems to be equally thuggish. He threatened to kill one of the lawyers (he also doubles as a human rights minister). But Saddam's brutal secretary (`Abd Hammud) said in his court appearance that he wants none other than the Minister of Justice to defend him. That raised speculation that he was referring to the past of this fellow where he cooperated with Saddam's regime, and he admitted on Al-Arabiyyah interview that he had indeed met with Saddam himself in the past. The inept lawyer also had been appointed by Saddam's decree. What a mess. But at least: Iceland and Finland are free and liberated.