<p>"December 29, 2004, 3:38 PM EST</p>
<p>AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ Former U.S. Attorney Ramsey Clark has joined
Saddam Hussein’s legal team, the chief of the fallen dictator’s
defense lawyers said Wednesday.</p>
<p>Ziad al-Khasawneh said Clark joined the team after Saddam told his
Iraqi lawyer, Khalil al-Duleimi, in a meeting last week to convey
his regards to the former U.S. attorney. Clark interpreted the
gesture as an attempt to enlist him, al-Khasawneh added.</p>
<p>Clark’s law office in New York City refused to comment on the report
and said Clark was scheduled to be out of the country until next
week.</p>
<p>Clark, who served as attorney general under the late President
Lyndon Johnson for three years in the 1960s, is a staunch anti-war
opponent who has met Saddam several times over the last 15 years. He
was considered a friend of Iraq under Saddam when the United Nations
slapped an embargo on Baghdad following its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.</p>
<p>Clark met with al-Khasawneh and others on the defense team Tuesday
and left the kingdom Wednesday, al-Khasawneh said.</p>
<p>With Clark, the number of Saddam’s lead lawyers in the Jordan-based
defense team becomes 25, said al-Khasawneh, who has said he was
appointed by Saddam’s wife Sajida.</p>
<p>The other lawyers come from different countries and include people
who have previously taken high profile international cases or are
known sympathizers with Saddam’s deposed Arab Baath Socialist Party.</p>
<p>Iraq’s Deputy prime minister told reporters in Baghdad Wednesday
that Saddam’s trial will likely start at the beginning of next year.
Saddam was arraigned in a Baghdad court in July on charges of war
crimes and genocide.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press"</p>
<p>Clark is a strange fellow… he’s defended some rather unsavory characters in the past, including Charles Taylor, former Nazis, and Lyndon LaRouche (ugh!). Wikipedia says that he actually was a LaRouche supporter himself… -_-</p>
<p>Whatever though, Saddam Hussein may have been a ■■■■■■■ and I have no sympathy for him whatsoever, but maybe Clark can play his legal and PR cards right and use the trial as a platform to demonstrate the utter hypocrisy of the US trying anybody for warcrimes.</p>