THE STAGING STAGE We are, at the moment, still in the get-ready period during which the platform is being made ready for the of an event called, by some, “the prime happening of our century”; by others, the official trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and it will, doubtless, be called by other names as it drags to a vague conclusion months - even years from now.
The accused individual it catching on fast. This week, after being present and talkative for the opening sessions,borrowed a “conduct” page from Michael Jackson's California routines when he announced he would not be there in the court room the next day. He complained of not having even a change of underwear, or of the way in which he has not been improperly provided for in food, fabric and facilities. In the course of his accounts of such inattention to his basic needs he managed to let the presiding judge know of his displeasure by inviting His Honor to ”go to Hell.”
He got away with it, too. The next morning the fenced area where Saddam usually perched and pouted was empty. The judge, it seems, had decided to declare it to be “work day” for staff . He had sent Saddam a note excusing him from, being present, Em person, that day of the court proceedings. The staff, which should have been stunned st around all day, I assume, twiddling their thumbs and wondering what Saddam would next to stall, for time and stretch this story time out as long as possible. Here in America we should be constantly on the alert to detect an sign of Yankee doodling in all of this affair because our one-time Attorney-General and aspirant for the presidential office Ramsey Clark, is present and not always fully accounted for among Saddam's herd of lawyers. He says he is there to see that Saddam gets a fair trial.
The ridiculous is going to be in constant collision with the sublime in the future episodes of this well-planned attempt at total exoneration.
A.L.M. December 9, 2005 [c386wds]
