Chrenkoff notes the media is spinning Saddam’s trial, making him out to be some sort of defiant anti-hero. Defiant is true; he wasn’t dictator of Iraq for nothing. However, the media headlines seem more intent on Saddam’s assertions that Bush is the true criminal.
Reading the news reports, I was struck by how Saddam’s responses seemed like an Iraqi version of Yakov Smirnoff. Here’s a script I made up that reflects the situation:
JUDGE: How do you answer these charges?
SADDAM: What charges?
JUDGE: You have been charged with invading Kuwait and generally being a carbuncle on Satan’s butt.
SADDAM: In Iraq, Satan carbuncles you! Which is what happened when the true criminal, the Great Satan Bush, invaded our sovereign land.
JUDGE: This trial isn’t about Bush.
SADDAM: In United States, Bush trials you!
JUDGE: What does that even mean?
SADDAM: I am innocent of all charges. I am president of Iraq!
JUDGE: You were deposed and have since been incarcerated on charges of human rights violations.
SADDAM: In Iraq, humans violate your rights!
JUDGE: That’s what we’re trying to say. You’ve killed and maimed hundreds of thousands–
SADDAM: In Iraq, hundreds of thousands kill and maim you!
JUDGE: Stop it!