Human Rights Watch tries to save Saddam from justice

Human Rights Watch is trying to save Saddam Hussein from the hangman.

It thinks the prosecution of the Iraqi former dictator was "unfair" and that excecuting Saddam would be "indefensible."

"The proceedings in the Dujail trial were fundamentally unfair," says Nehal Bhuta, author of a new, 97-page Human Rights Watch report that rips into the prosecution.

"The tribunal squandered an important opportunity to deliver credible justice to the people of Iraq. And its imposition of the death penalty after an unfair trial is indefensible," Bhuta says.

Human Rights Watch is giving its report lots of publicity. While covering itself by saying it has always argued for Saddam to be put on trial, the group is contriving reasons not to execute him. Among the excuses:

1. "The trial failed to meet basic fair trial standards in its first trial."

2. Iraqis are incapable of trying former regime officials on its own: "Unless the Iraqi government allows experienced international judges and lawyers to participate directly, it's unlikely the court can fairly conduct other trials."

3. If Saddam is executed for the relatively few crimes of which he stands convicted, he won't be able to stand trial "for genocide against the Kurds."

4. Executing Saddam Hussein "while other [years-long] trials are ongoing will also deprive many thousands of victims of their day in court."

And oh, yes, there's a fifth excuse: "Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty as inherently inhumane punishment. . . ."

On its website, Human Rights Watch says the Iraqi "court should overturn verdict [and] death penalty."