"Sadaam Is Not A Dictator"

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial told the ex-president Thursday that "you were not a dictator," sparking Kurdish demands he be replaced. The judge already had rejected prosecution demands he step down for allegedly favoring the defense.

Judge Abdullah al-Amiri, a Shiite Arab, made the comment after Saddam challenged testimony by a Kurdish farmer who said the ousted president ordered him to "shut up" when he begged for the release of nine missing relatives.

"Why did he try to see Saddam Hussein (if) Saddam Hussein was a dictator and was against the Kurdish people?" the former president asked.

The judge replied: "You are not a dictator. You were not a dictator. However, the people or the individuals and officials surrounding you created a dictator (out of you). It was not you in particular. It happens all over the world."

"Thank you," Saddam responded, bowing his head in respect.


The funny thing about this is when I look up the word "Dictator" in Websters Dictionary I see Sadaam Hussein's picture.