Saddam 'has suffered a stroke'

[zimv20]

i wonder why this hasn't been more widely reported...

link (http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=865472004)


SADDAM HUSSEIN has suffered a minor stroke, his lawyers claimed today.

And they said the former Iraqi dictator could die before he stands trial.

The multi-national legal team is still waiting for permission to see Saddam, but said they had information from the Red Cross that his health had deteriorated.

Earlier this month, Saddam appeared in an Iraqi courtroom, when he was read seven charges against him that may lead to a formal indictment for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Jordanian lawyer Mohammed al-Rashdan has written to Salem Chalebi, head of the Iraqi prosecuting authorities, on behalf of the defence team, demanding access to their client. He said: "Our information is he’s in very poor heath. We understand our client has had a brain scan to discover how badly he has been affected by the stroke. We believe he could die because of his health problems."

Mr al-Rashdan said the lawyers’ attempts to see Saddam had so far been blocked. And

he speculated Saddam’s health could get much worse if a trial was not held soon. "We believe any trial could be months, if not years, away," he said.

(more)

[blackfox]

Well, obvious jokes about poetic justice and why couldn't it happen to Bush aside...(oh, I forgot the conspiracy to silence one...)

I hope he is given quick and appropriate treatment as he waits to stand trial. To do otherwise for political or potential security reasons seems overly callous. Also awaiting verification of extent of his injuries befor further comments.

[Ugg]

I doubt that the man too very good care of himself over his lifetime. (Health wise, and not killing your enemies wise. ;)) I wouldn't be surprised if he died in his 60's.

From the articles I have read, the Iraqi government is treating him as well as can be expected.

Uhhhh, the Iraqi interim govt. has legal control but as far as I know he is still under US physical control and for that matter I don't even think he is in Iraq.

I wouldn't be surprised if his health was "allowed" to deteriorate, Rummy could be awfully embarrassed by SH, assuming that is that SH is still sane, something I questioned even before the war began.

[Colirio]

Well, I for one would rather see him healthy enough to stand trial and be convicted of those crimes. I think it could do a lot for the people of Iraq to be able to see some legal justice for the attrocities he commited against them.

Of course, I still have my doubts about whether or not he will even be convicted. He's been a thorn in the side of not just the US but the whole world including the UN for more than a decade now. He's like a cockroach that just can't be squashed...

[pseudobrit]

I'm waiting for the Limbaugh angle:

Hollywood liberal elite hold candlelight vigil, sing "Get well Saddam."

[Neserk]

Good one Psuedobrit.

How old is he, anyhow?

[Bobcat37]

I'm waiting for the Limbaugh angle:

Hollywood liberal elite hold candlelight vigil, sing "Get well Saddam."

So which celebrities were there? Oh wait... you were kidding? :(

(Just kiddin, even though I like Rush, that was pretty damn funny pseudobrit)

[Chip NoVaMac]

Well, I for one would rather see him healthy enough to stand trial and be convicted of those crimes. I think it could do a lot for the people of Iraq to be able to see some legal justice for the attrocities he commited against them.

Of course, I still have my doubts about whether or not he will even be convicted. He's been a thorn in the side of not just the US but the whole world including the UN for more than a decade now. He's like a cockroach that just can't be squashed...

I would hope that he remains healthy to show the crimes that he committed; but also the crimes that Bush and Company have committed in his name.

IMO Bush and Company are are just as much war criminals as any other despot.

[Durandal7]

Still unconfirmed, if he did have a stroke it's in Allawi's best interest to keep him alive since he is essentially being used as a hostage to deter Baathist insurgents.

A confirmed report about Saddam's health did come out a few days ago that says he has a severe prostate infection, it kind of sounds like an untreated STD. Saddam is being said to be reluctant to take antibiotics. If Saddam had untreated syphilis for a while it would explain a lot of his behavior :p

[Chip NoVaMac]

Still unconfirmed, if he did have a stroke it's in Allawi's best interest to keep him alive since he is essentially being used as a hostage to deter Baathist insurgents.

A confirmed report about Saddam's health did come out a few days ago that says he has a severe prostate infection, it kind of sounds like an untreated STD. Saddam is being said to be reluctant to take antibiotics. If Saddam had untreated syphilis for a while it would explain a lot of his behavior :p

I was thinking the sam. Didn't recent reports state that Lenin also have Syphilis?

[trebblekicked]

I was thinking the sam. Didn't recent reports state that Lenin also have Syphilis?

and napoleon.

[skunk]

Maybe it's the root cause of megalomania...

[Thanatoast]

Wouldn't be hillarious if Saddam died and robbed Bush of his revenge? What would the repercussions of that be?

[Bobcat37]

Wouldn't be hillarious if Saddam died and robbed Bush of his revenge? What would the repercussions of that be?

Hmmm, not really. Maybe we just have different sense of humor. Personally, when Saddam dies, however it happens, I'll be happy (and I would imagine Bush will be too). I think it is hard to guess what the repercussion will be no matter if Saddam dies naturally or is put to death.

However, along those same lines, I agree with Colirio. I would rather have him tried and convicted of his crimes in Iraq by the Iraqi people, and then let them kill him (or whatever they decide). I just hope that isn't months/years away as some predict.

[takao]

However, along those same lines, I agree with Colirio. I would rather have him tried and convicted of his crimes in Iraq by the Iraqi people, and then let them kill him (or whatever they decide). I just hope that isn't months/years away as some predict.

as long as the trial doesn't get a 'theatre' where the penalty and guilt is written down before the trial starts

a formaly correct and democratic trial on that scale will easily take months/years

"the mills of justice grind slowly, but thoroughly" (i hope the point of that proverb got through translation)

personal comment:
life time penalty would be the right thing (i'm no fan of death penalty, that would be just like the regime which got replaced) in my opinion

[zimv20]

and napoleon.
omg... just woke up from a nap, read your post and thought "lenin had syphilis and napolean?"

[skunk]

"the mills of justice grind slowly, but thoroughly" (i hope the point of that proverb got through translation)
"The wheels of justice grind exceeding slow" I believe is correct... :)

[takao]

"The wheels of justice grind exceeding slow" I believe is correct... :)

thanks
i hate it so much when a german expression comes to my mind and i completly fail to translate it...
i have buy a "popular proverbs translated into english" book some day ;)

[skunk]

Believe it or not, it's a paraphrase of Euripides...

[iLikeMyiMac]

and napoleon.
and Nero
Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis#People_identified_as_probably_syphilitic) are more people who had it.

[Bobcat37]

That is a lot of friggin people O_o

I think that rules out it being the root cause of megalomania though, skunk. According to that even Mozart, Abe Lincoln, Edgar Allen Poe, and others might have had it!

However, I admit there is still a strange pattern of tyrants having it. Hitler, Napoleon, Lenin, Stalin, Ivan the Terrible? Hehehe.

[blackfox]

...snip...
However, I admit there is still a strange pattern of tyrants having it. Hitler, Napoleon, Lenin, Stalin, Ivan the Terrible? Hehehe.

Dare I say it?...

[Ugg]

Dare I say it?...

Yeah, well, we've all thought it I'm sure but syphilis only leads to megalomania when it is untreated, I'm sure that a man in his position would have to be tested for everything under the sun and presumably treated for it.

[trebblekicked]

omg... just woke up from a nap, read your post and thought "lenin had syphilis and napolean?"

and i just actually laughed out loud. thanks :)

Dare I say it?...

you don't know how close i came...

[Chip NoVaMac]

Maybe it's the root cause of megalomania...

Maybe we need our leaders tested and published for their STD status?

[Chip NoVaMac]

Yeah, well, we've all thought it I'm sure but syphilis only leads to megalomania when it is untreated, I'm sure that a man in his position would have to be tested for everything under the sun and presumably treated for it.

Better healthcare than the one that serves your food at a restaurant. How sad that those with the income to afford healthcare, vote against healthcare that can not afford it....

Think about it....

[kaylie_kipe]

I think that Saddam needs to get a little better treatment. Yes, he did terrible things to people and he should be punished for that. But he is a political prisoner and not letting him see his lawyers seems like it's a bit much. We all know that when he goes to trial, if he makes it, he will probably get the death penalty. So why not go ahead and let him see his lawyers? They probably won't be able to stop what is going to happen to him, but at least that way he'll be getting a fair trial.