July 2004And now, minimalist justice“It will be a court of vengeance, a settling of scores.” – Emmanuel Ludot, a lawyer acting for Saddam Hussein. After the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was transferred to the legal custody of the interim Iraqi government and charged by a “special tribunal”. 16 July 2004.
Sick if you're fat?“This is truly a dumbing-down of the term ‘disease’. This is the only disease that I'm familiar with that you can solve by regularly taking long walks and keeping your mouth shut.” – Rick Berman, Executive Director of the Center for Consumer Freedom (in the US), a food-industry-funded advocacy group. After the National Institutes of Health (of the US) declared obesity a disease. (The US Surgeon-General describes it as a ‘condition’.) 15 July 2004.
Spotting the sources of fascism“The [Republican] party appeals to the dark underside of American culture, to the minority of Americans who reject democracy and equality. They preach neutrality and practice racial division.” – Julian Bond, Chairman of the US National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In his keynote speech at the 95th annual convention of the NAACP. 12 July 2004.
And how about the bulls?“The animals suffer, and nobody has the right to mistreat them just to stage a fiesta.” – Isabel Gonzalez, leader of a Belgian anti-bullfighting group. Protesting before the start of the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain. 6 July 2004.
Spare a thought for the individual's rights“A state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens.” – Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, US Supreme Court. In a US Supreme ruling allowing Guantanamo Bay prisoners to bring appeals against their imprisonment before US courts. 5 July 2004.
A furtive handover“Suddenly, and after a series of [sic] misleading the people, a symbolic process for the transfer of authority has taken place. The nature of the transfer, its style of secrecy and its premature timing without a prior notice embody the situation as it is.” – Leader in the Iraqi daily newspaper, Azzaman. About the “handing over of sovereignty” to “Iraqis”. 3 July 2004.
A sorry handover“Symbolically, the ceremony was not commensurate with [the] enormous price that the Iraqis paid during 25 years of a rule by a single party and a single ruler; of a regime of mass graves; and a year, three months, and 20 days of occupation and chaos that set the stage for looting, thefts, booby-trapped cars, abductions and murders of Iraqi citizens—days that reverberated of decades gone by and futile aspirations, while the Iraqis never gave up hope for a better time.” – Fakhri Karim, editor of the Iraqi publication, Al-Mada. About the “handing over of sovereignty” to “Iraqis”. 3 July 2004.
The rest of the gang“If they give Saddam a fair trial, they will all end up with him in the dock: Kissinger, Reagan, Thatcher, Blair, the two Bushes and Allawi.” – Iraqi observer. After charges were brought against Saddam Hussein by a specially appointed prosecutor. 2 July 2004.
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