Iraqi election mind-bender

[Heavy Z]

You guys aren't going to believe this one :

 

http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040921&hn=12424

 

 

 

Saddam to Declare Candidacy for Iraqi Elections

 

 

Overthrown Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was arrested by US forces last December, reportedly plans to run as a candidate in the Iraqi elections scheduled for January 2005.

 

Saddam's lawyer Giovanni di Stefano told Denmark's B.T. newspaper that Saddam decided during one of their discussions that he would declare his candidacy for the elections.

 

Stefano said that there was no law that prevented Saddam from appearing on the ballot. He added that Saddam hopes to regain his presidency and palaces via the democratic process.

 

Contrary to the statements of Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, Stefano claims, "Saddam has no chance to be tried before the elections. Moreover, no international law prevents him from coming forward."

 

Saddam's lawyer defends that the ambiguity in Iraq will favor Saddam at the polls. Stefano remarked that a recent Gallup poll indicates that 42 percent of the Iraqi people want their former leader back.

 

Meanwhile, evaluating the conditions of Saddam in jail, Allawi said that Saddam had asked him for mercy.

 

 

09.21.2004

Hasan Cucuk

Copenhagen

[z-REX]

i somehow wouldn't be surprised to see his ill-fated opponents start dropping like flies.

 

there HAS to be some international law that prohibits someone on trial for genocide from running for office! i can understand a speeding ticket, but the crime of mass murder?

 

in other news... the ghost of jeffrey dahmer will be on the u.s. ballot as an independent...

[JustAFantaZ]

Why would Iraq need an international law? All they need is for allawi to forbid Sodom Insane from being a candidate.

[jeromio]

Well, if the trial is not over, then clearly the man has not been convicted. Not sure about the specifics of Iraqi law, but it certainly would be unfair to prevent someone who has merely been accused of a crime from running for political office.

 

Think about it, a few weeks before an election, the ruling party could just arrest the opposition - not very democratic.

[z-REX]

Why would Iraq need an international law? All they need is for allawi to forbid Sodom Insane from being a candidate.

 

the reason i suggested that route is because i suspect saddam's sphere of influence to be far wider than that of allawi, even now. the idea that he could have allawi killed at the drop of a hat isn't unreasonable whatsoever.

[z-REX]

Well' date=' if the trial is not over, then clearly the man has not been convicted. Not sure about the specifics of Iraqi law, but it certainly would be unfair to prevent someone who has merely been accused of a crime from running for political office.

 

Think about it, a few weeks before an election, the ruling party could just arrest the opposition - not very democratic.[/quote']

 

very good point, but i'm just thinking about the scope of what this man's accused of. i guess the election legalities have to be unilateral, but you can't just accuse anyone of genocide without something to back it up.

[JustAFantaZ]

Think about it, a few weeks before an election, the ruling party could just arrest the opposition - not very democratic.

OK, I thought about it...and I still dismiss the idea of letting Sodom Insane run for prez as absurd.

 

This isn't a precedent or a general rule. This is a specific case of a murderous tyrant who was just OVERTHROWN from power last year. There is NO WAY this chump will be allowed to regain power, except maybe to select his last meal while on death row.

[jeromio]

There is NO WAY this chump will be allowed to regain power, except maybe to select his last meal while on death row.

Sounds like you don't favor democracy.

 

If people are allowed to vote in a legitimate, fair election, then why do you think there is even a chance that they would vote someone into office if they don't want him there?

 

Just to anticipate your next comment, no, I don't personally think that the Saddam era (pre-invasion) Iraqi elections were fair or valid. But the whole idea of these next ones is fairness, right? So what's the harm in letting a lunatic try a run for the office? I mean, do you think he can even get enough support to get on the ballot? I don't.

[Mike kZ]

Don't forget the Iraqi people are affraid of him. If they see that he can get on the ballot, they will think he will win no matter how. So they will vote for him so he doesn't kill them and their families.