Iraqis Need To Judge Hussein, CWU Professor Says

December 15, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Members of Iraq's Governing Council have been quoted as saying the trial of Saddam Hussein could begin within the next few weeks, but maybe not until summer.

When tried, it should not be on war crimes charges, according to Dr. Michael Launius, executive director of international studies and programs at Central Washington University.

"War crimes are technically those committed by one side against another during the course of a war," he says. "His gassing of Iraqi Kurds and the roundup and massacre of Shiite Muslims during his dictatorship were directed against his own people and were crimes against humanity."

Estimates are that as many as 300,000 people may have been killed during Hussein's 23-year rule. Regardless of the charges Hussein will face, or when and where his trial ultimately takes place, Launius warns that it should not look like a kangaroo-court proceeding.

"You're going to need some kind of legitimate Iraqi tribunal that is capable of conducting a trial which would be perceived as legitimate by not only Iraqis, but the international community as well," Launius adds. "You want to punish him, but you want the perception of his punishment to be legitimate and fair."

A July 1 deadline looms for the U.S.-led civil authority now in place to turn over control to a new, transitional Iraqi government. Under the U.S. authority, executions have been suspended in Iraq, though it's thought they may be quickly reinstated after the transition and could be imposed on Hussein if he's convicted.

Saddam was captured Saturday night in northern Iraq in a raid led by U.S. soldiers.

"I personally know a number of the people that were on the project to get him," Maj. Chris Schmitt, CWU military science professor, says. "They're friends of mine. I know, now that Saddam Hussein has been arrested, they could be home for the holidays."

At present, Hussein is being questioned at an undisclosed location by U.S. authorities - most likely State Department or CIA personnel, according to Schmitt.

"The interrogations aren't as 'sexy' as the movies make them out to be," he adds. "It's just questioning him for hours. Just by asking and re-asking questions -- and getting people caught in lies - you can get quite a bit of information. Basically, it's the same techniques used on criminals in the United States."

Hussein's capture came at a particularly advantageous time, Schmitt points out.

"There's probably not a more difficult time for a soldier to be deployed than over the holidays," he adds. "Being that far away from home and doing the kind of dangerous job they're doing, Saddam's capture is something that validates their daily efforts and that, if they keep doing what they're doing and working hard, good things will happen."