I don't doubt that Saddam Hussein committed atrocities during his time in power (many with U.S. backing). Saddam Hussein was and isn't a nice guy. However, how anyone could claim that the sham trial just completed was in any way a "fair trial" is beyond me. Defence lawyers picked off one by one, a judge that was seen by the United States (the occupying power) as supportive of Saddam was replaced by one who was blatantly anti-Saddam. Even the date of the verdict seems conveniently timed to Bush's interests.

In a puppet trial like this: even if condemned truly deserved what they get, they come out looking like a martyr not a criminal.