Why Saddam's trial in Iraq is a mistake
Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 1:52AM
Thomas P.M. Barnett

"Lawyer for Saddam official killed: 2nd defense attorney slain before trial," by Rick Jervis, USA Today, 9 November 2005, p. 1A.

It's not just the assassinations of the legal personnel involved. It's that this entire trial should be about building case law for the A-to-Z rule set for processing politically bankrupt states.

It's not about making Iraqis feel good or bad anymore, or getting brave people killed. It's about making the world a better place.


Saddam should be on trial in the ICC. Doesn't matter the hassle. Doesn't matter what bad things might be exposed about our intervention or occupation.


You want to use the Leviathan, you have to submit to the global rule set. We set that process in motion, getting a lot of authorship in the process (meaning, getting our way), or that process is imposed on us, and we won't like the outcome.

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