Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Shameful Gestures

That left-wing lawyer Ramsey Clark has never met an enemy of the United States that he didn't like, or a tyrant that he didn't fawn over, is a matter of historical record. Thus it comes as no surprise that this former attorney general under Lyndon Johnson has traveled to Iraq to help defend Saddam Hussein as he stands trial for numerous atrocities against his people.

Clark's supporters will insist, of course, that everyone deserves a fair trial, but it doesn't follow that someone who has a decent respect for mankind and a sympathy for all the grieving family members Hussein has left in his murderous wake should go so far out of his way to insure it himself. Nor does it mean that Clark should feel the need to show deference and respect for a man whose crimes are universally acknowledged and beyond all reasonable doubt. Indeed, Clark has even tacitly admitted that Saddam is guilty of the crime he is presently defending himself against. Yet that's the sort of person Ramsey Clark is. For him, evil, if it is in the cause of opposing the United States, deserves respect:

At the start of Monday's [trial] session, Saddam walked into the court with a smile, carrying a copy of the Quran and greeted everyone there. Most of the defendants and several of the defense lawyers, including Clark, al-Dulaimi and al-Nueimi, stood up out of respect when Saddam walked in.

Ramsey Clark has disgraced himself with this gesture and has embarrassed all those who have considered him over the years to be a champion of human rights. For more evidence indicting Clark's character read Christopher Hitchens' piece here.