Iraq's Aziz says will not testify against Saddam

[bemildred]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Tareq Aziz, the Iraqi former deputy prime minister, denied on Tuesday that he might testify against his former president Saddam Hussein in a trial that could begin in a couple of months.

In an effort to quash speculation that the man who was Saddam's envoy to the outside world might turn star witness for the prosecution, Aziz delivered a statement through his lawyer.

"I would like to make clear ... that I will not testify against anyone and, in particular, I will not testify against Saddam Hussein," attorney Badia Aref quoted Aziz saying in a note he passed the lawyer during a meeting earlier in the day.

So far, Saddam has been formally charged in one case -- the killing of dozens of Shi'ite Muslims from the village of Dujail after a failed assassination attempt in 1982. If he is found guilty, he faces the death penalty. An Iraqi judge said on Monday the trial was expected to begin in two months.

Reuters

[rzemanfl]

1. And Bush will stand by Rove. n/t

[jeff30997]

2. And vice-versa.

[PurityOfEssence]

3. Some of the first Christian ethics I've seen lately

Aziz is on his own now. He's been part of the good, bad and messy, but for whatever reason, he doesn't want to rat out his boss. Perhaps it's because Saddam led a secular regime and protected minorities like him. Yes, Aziz is a Christian.

Ask yourself this: for all the nastiness of Saddam's government, do you see any possibility of a successor government being non-theocratic? It's funny how Junior, who will kill anything to make sure Christianity is in ascendence, is perfectly happy to embrace Muslim fundamentalism that kills all Christians if the oil will flow and Saudi Arabia is safe. Funnier stilly, he'll stomp weak Christians if they get in the way of money. Big shock.

Hahahahahahaha.