...Why must the trial be seen to be fair? What does that mean in this context? That there are two versions of the truth? - one where the Baathist regime under Saddam terrorised the Iraqi people, gassed the Kurds, tortured and murdered political opponents, invaded Iran and Kuwait, etc. etc. - and another where none of this happened? So the evidence is presented to the jury, and they have to decide which history is true? It's clearly nonsense. We know what happened...

...Saddam is seen and heard speaking to a crowd from atop the local party headquarters about that war, which started in 1980 and lasted until 1988, claiming around a million lives.

"I know and everyone knows that the people of Dujail are courageous," Saddam is heard saying to the crowd.

But later, off camera, a group of young men ambushed Saddam's convoy, trying but failing to kill him...

...One man named Ali, age 14 in 1982, survived four years in prison. He and his brothers each went to jail on the same day. It took him years to learn of his brothers' fate.

"I found a document signed by Saddam in 1985 to execute some of the Dujail people with us in prison -- 149 people, including seven of my brothers, 34 of my relatives and ... 118 people of my town," he said.

"They are now for God; to God they have returned."...