The Problem Of What To Do With Saddam

by Peyman Pejman

When L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq appeared before a press conference Sunday to speak his long-to-be-remembered words, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have him," even Iraqi journalists screamed in euphoria.

It was a historic breakthrough, but not the end of the Saddam story.

Coalition forces in Iraq and U.S. officials in Washington had long argued that closing the chapter on Saddam Hussein was necessary.

This was primarily for two reasons.

First, many U.S. military commanders believed that as long as Saddam was on the run he would at least psychologically contribute to the ongoing attacks on coalition forces.

Commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez told a recent press conference that one reason more Iraqis had not come forward to offer information on guerrilla leaders was the fear they would be punished by Saddam and his followers.

The second reason was that many Iraqis could not accept that a new page was turned Apr. 9 when Baghdad fell to the coalition forces.

"As long as Saddam has not been killed or arrested, there will remain a shadow for many Iraqis as to whether they can move on with their lives, whether they can start rebuilding their country and re-map their own lives," Intifahd Qanbar, spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress had told IPS in Baghdad in October.

The capture of Saddam Saturday is likely to solve at least the second problem.

But Gen. Sanchez says the arrest is not likely to end attacks against coalition forces.

It raises the question whether Saddam's arrest will embolden guerrillas into launching an all-out attack, and whether such an attack against much better equipped coalition forces can be sustained.

Aside from the military aspect, the coalition forces now face a political challenge: what to do with Saddam.

For months both coalition officials and members of the governing council have said Saddam would be tried in a special Iraqi human rights court.

But in their press conference in Baghdad Sunday, both Bremer and Gen. Sanchez refused to make commitments on Saddam's future.

Asked whether the former Iraqi leader would be turned over to Iraqi forces, the two U.S. officials said interrogation of Saddam will continue, and that other matters will be decided later.

Less than an hour later, members of the Iraqi governing council were saying something different.

"He will be provided a lawyer, the trial will be Iraqi and it will be a fair trial," said acting president of the governing council Adnan Pacheche.

That may be easier said than done, and coalition forces will likely be walking a tightrope.

Many Iraqis would want Saddam to be put on trial soon, but it is unlikely that his interrogators would let go of him in a hurry.

In a country where many are already complaining about the coalition forces' record card, choosing the right balance between providing a speedy trial and getting whatever information they need could prove difficult.

While Iraqis promise fair trial for Saddam and others in their custody, it is unlikely that Iraq's new and fledgling legal system can produce a human rights court competent enough to try Saddam.

The governing council signed a bill last week to set up a war crimes tribunal. But establishing a court to try Saddam will take time and money.