Two Bits of Justice

Texas Justice

Jeffrey SkillingThe first is from Texas, where, as reported in Skilling Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison (Washington Post), Enron’s former CEO, Jeff Skilling, has been found guilty of corporate fraud. Specifically, “for the accounting tricks and shady business deals that led to the loss of thousands of jobs, more than $60 billion in Enron stock and more than $2 billion in employee pension plans”. He has been sentenced to 24 years, 4 months in prison. He will be expected to pay the outstanding sums in the class action lawsuit against Enron brought by its former employees and pension plan participants—to the tune of 45 million dollars, since Kenneth Lay took advantage of a legal loophole by dying.

Yay, justice. Here’s hoping he serves all 24 of them. Not that his punishment will prevent other CEOs from bilking Americans—but at least he’ll suffer along with all the other former Enron employees.

Iraqi Justice

Saddam HusseinThe second is from America’s latest colony, Iraq, where, as reported in Saddam Hussein to Hang for Crimes Against Iraqis (Washington Post), its previous ruler, Saddam Hussein, has been found guilty of crimes against humanity. Specifically, “for the torture and execution of more than 100 people from a small town north of Baghdad 24 years ago”. He has been sentenced to death by hanging as Iraq still has the death penalty. A more fitting punishment would have been to stick him back down his spider hole. Unfortunately, the Iraqi people, though celebratory for an evening, will, in the morning, have to go back to contending with their new rulers.

By the way, for the Republicans out there … you can shut the fuck up about the perfect timing of the Foley case now. It seems the American military-run justice system in Iraq has lobbed this bit of news before voters’ noses at just the right time.

Update: Of course, true justice would have had quite a few more people in the docket, a point well illustrated in This was a guilty verdict on America as well by Robert Fisk (The Independent). 24 years ago, Saddam was fighting Iran in a war spurred on, fully supported and financed by the United States under the Reagan administration. The Trial of the Century by Billmon (Whiskey Bar) makes the same point—albeit with tongue firmly in cheek—noting that:

“historians and legal experts alike said they were mystified by the court’s determination to prevent Saddam and the other Baath Party defendents from testifying or introducing evidence about the support they received from the U.S. government during Iran-Iraq War.”

Saddam isn’t exactly a scapegoat, but he sure is left standing out there alone with his ass hanging in the breeze when, were there any justice in the world, Rummy, Cheney and a dozen of his closest cohorts at the time that he committed these crimes would be standing in pantsless solidarity with him.

Amazingly enough, that didn’t happen.