Iraq adapting fast to procedural justice

In a matter of hours we see a transition from a lust for summary justice to a willingness to allow the system to proceed. This is a significant change because it represents a level of faith that "the system" will likely converge on an acceptable result.

Saddam is nominally on trial here, but what is really being put on trial is the way he ran the country and the methods he used. In building the case point by point in public, rather than delivering a "summary bullet", the media perpetrated myths and apologia surrounding Saddam will fall along with him. It will no longer be possible for some to sweep this reality under the rug. Its very easy to say "oh, I know he was a bad guy", its quite something else to know exactly what "bad guy" means.

IRAQ THE MODEL

...“Why do we have to listen to this bull****?” said one of my friends.
“I prefer the trial goes like this:
Q:Are you Saddam Hussein?
A:Yes.
Then take this bullet in the head.”...

...As the prosecution went deeper into details and facts, the way we viewed the trial began to change an d those among us who were demanding a bullet in Saddam’s head now seemed pleased with the proceedings “I don’t think I want to see that bullet now, I want to see justice take place as it should be”.
We were watching an example of justice in the new Iraq, a place where no one should be denied his rights, not even Saddam.

We smiled seeing the news anchors lower their voices and nodding down when the prosecution grew stronger and more reasonable and convincing and they also abandoned the previous poetic sentimental tone that couldn’t stand in the face of facts and figures.