Condi Bashes Europe

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice today accused unnamed countries (read: Europe) of shirking responsibility for and "boycotting" Saddam Hussein's trial. The reason European countries are not helping is because the trial is not viewed as fair because it was set up by an occupying power (not the usual under the rules of war) and there exists the possibility of the death penalty if (when) Hussein is found guilty. European countries have all outlawed capital punishment, and therefore would face a credibility gap if they supported what is seen as a show trial leading to execution. Reuters reports:

- International human rights groups have questioned whether the court can provide a fair trial and doubt its legitimacy because it was established during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

- "Being opposed to the death penalty and helping Iraqis to find out the truth and hold those accountable for war crimes are not mutually exclusive," said the State Department official, who asked not to be named.