Cardinal Says U.S. Treated Saddam 'Like a Cow'

Basically Saddam was put on display, against the Geneva
Accords, but it stopped early on. I think somebody got
to the authorities and said "stop it", we don`t gain
anything by this kind of display.

They apparently did lose something. I was surprise
there were some humanists still around.

Earl

**

Cardinal Says U.S. Treated Saddam 'Like a Cow'
Tue December 16, 2003 07:59 AM ET

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A top Vatican official said Tuesday he felt pity
and compassion for Saddam Hussein and criticized the U.S. military for
showing video footage of him being treated "like a cow."

Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Justice and Peace department
and a former papal envoy to the United Nations, told a news conference it
would be "illusory" to think the arrest of the former Iraqi president would
heal all the damage caused by a war which the Holy See opposed.

"I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth
as if he were a cow. They could have spared us these pictures," he said.

"Seeing him like this, a man in his tragedy, despite all the heavy blame he
bears, I had a sense of compassion for him," he said in answer to questions
about Saddam's arrest.

Martino was referring to the videotape released by the U.S. military which
showed a grubby, bearded and disheveled Saddam receiving a medical
examination by a military doctor after his capture in an underground hole
Saturday.

Martino was one of the Vatican officials most strongly opposed to the
U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"It's true that we should be happy that this (arrest) has come about
because it is the watershed that was necessary... we hope that this will
not have worse and other serious consequences," Martino said.

"But it is not the total solution to the problems of the Middle East," he
said.

Martino said the Vatican hoped the arrest of Saddam "can contribute to
promoting peace and the democratization of Iraq."

He added: "But is seems to me to be illusory to hope that this will repair
the dramas and the damage of the defeat for humanity that a war always
brings about."

The Vatican did not consider the war in Iraq "a just war" because it was
not backed by the United Nations and because the Vatican believed more
negotiations were necessary to avoid it.

Martino said the Vatican wanted an "appropriate institution" to put Saddam
on trial but he did not elaborate.

U.S. forces were keeping the ousted 66-year-old dictator at a secret
location for interrogation before he is put on trial in the months ahead.
He could face the death penalty.

The news conference was called for Martino to present the World Day of
Peace message, in which Pope John Paul took a swipe at the United States
for invading Iraq without the backing of the United Nations.

© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

Earl Evleth wrote:

They apparently did lose something. I was surprise
there were some humanists still around.

This is the same humanist organisation which recently put their full
support behind a central american cardinal because he felt that 8 and 9
year olds should be forced to term against their wishes when they'd been
raped.

David

--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

What is the relation of all these Saddam postings with travel, Europe or
recreation ?

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 14:24:44 +0100, Earl Evleth
wrote:

Basically Saddam was put on display, against the Geneva
Accords, but it stopped early on. I think somebody got
to the authorities and said "stop it", we don`t gain
anything by this kind of display.

Even with the publication of the pictures and video, several news
organizations were able to find Iraqis who said it was all a trick and
Saddam had not been captured. Do you really think there was any other
way to get the word out? An in-depth Al-Jazeera report on the DNA
match? Get real.

Gordon

Following up to Earl Evleth

Basically Saddam was put on display, against the Geneva
Accords, but it stopped early on. I think somebody got
to the authorities and said "stop it", we don`t gain
anything by this kind of display.

They apparently did lose something. I was surprise
there were some humanists still around.

Bad mistake, they managed to get people feeling sympathy for the
man, some achievement. A few simple shots of him being led away
looking a shambles would have been effective, the medical, noooo.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Walking-food-photos, Wasdale, Thames, London etc "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
and same for Spain at "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

On 16/12/03 15:59, in article ,
"Reid" wrote:

Bad mistake, they managed to get people feeling sympathy for the
man, some achievement.


Hitler did it right. He tested the poison pill out on Bondi, his
German Sheppard to see if it worked. The dog died, gaining
Hitler eternal hatred from dog lovers.

Hitler shot himself by Eva took the pill.

Earl

Following up to Earl Evleth

Hitler did it right. He tested the poison pill out on Bondi, his
German Sheppard to see if it worked. The dog died, gaining
Hitler eternal hatred from dog lovers.

and others

Hitler shot himself by Eva took the pill.

It must have been the morning after type then.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Walking-food-photos, Wasdale, Thames, London etc "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
and same for Spain at "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap