When Saddam Hussein was flushed from his “spider hole” hiding place in December 2003, Americans hoped that his televised trial would lead to a demonstration of the new rule of law in Iraq. However, by the time Hussein's war crimes trial began, sectarian divisions and a growing insurgency movement were competing for headlines. This PBS-aired documentary from the America at a Crossroads series examines Hussein's trial and aftermath, which—like the war itself—never went as smoothly as planned. Hussein is charged with, among other offenses, engineering the mass murder of Kurds, as well as being responsible for the random slaughter of villagers in reprisal for an assassination attempt when the dictator paid an earlier visit to the area. But the legal proceedings were marred by political interference from the country's new leadership and by security problems, leading to the murder of several defense lawyers. Hussein's trial only served to highlight the nation's continued sectarian divisions, which he cleverly exploited by pursuing a political defense in which he tried to discredit the court and denounce American occupation, while still claiming to be Iraq's rightful leader. In the end, Hussein was hanged in December 2006 and the world witnessed the ugly scene of the former dictator being jeered and taunted by rivals as he stood on the gallows. Drawing on interviews with journalists, trial observers, and members of Hussein's defense team (including former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark), the documentary presents a disturbing picture of flawed justice in a circus-like trial. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
The Trial of Saddam Hussein
(2008) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. Closed captioned. ISBN: 0-7936-7009-8. Volume 24, Issue 3
The Trial of Saddam Hussein
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