Human Rights Watch, based in New York, is now putting itself in the position of being an agent of one of the worst human-rights violators in the last 30 years:

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Council must not mount a political show trial. "Saddam Hussein's capture is a welcome development and it's important that the Iraqi people feel ownership of his trial," Kenneth Roth, the executive director of the rights watchdog, said in a statement. "But it's equally important that the trial not be perceived as vengeful justice," Roth said. "For that reason, international jurists must be involved in the process."

Within hours of Saddam's capture, HRW has made the arrogant and bigoted assumption that the Iraqis are incapable of conducting a fair trial before they've even had a chance to make the first preparations. Instead of supporting Iraqi sovereignty, they are already undermining it with statements that have the effect of delegitimizing the Iraqis.

HRW has said the law creating the tribunal, which has yet to be published, is "flawed" and lacks "essential elements to ensure legitimate and credible trials for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity." Richard Dicker, director of HRW's International Justice Program, warned: "The tribunal might be seen as a court of revenge, not justice."

Without the law even being published, HRW makes the assumption that it is flawed. And they say Bush is arrogant! Too bad that HRW has decided to throw so much effort in ensuring that Saddam is provided their idea of due process and attempting to lock the Iraqis out of the trial, despite the fact that the Iraqis suffered worst under his rule. Maybe HRW would be better off to wait until plans and arrangements are made before launching its criticism and arrogance, and quit being the mouthpiece of recent history's greatest butcher.

UPDATE: Jon at QandO wants to know when the international community became so concerned with justice for Saddam ... I think he's got the right answer.

UPDATE 2: Jon and I aren't the only ones who see the irony in HRW's concerns. Midwest Conservative Journal is as amused by this as I am.

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