Court TV Host: Welcome, Fred Graham, thanks for being our guest today.

Fred Graham: It's been an interesting day...

Question from hedge: Why is Saddam being tried by an Iraqi court...wouldn't the World Court actually have jurisdiction?

Fred Graham: The World Court in the Hague wanted the case, but the Iraqis wanted to do this themselves. They suffered greatly under Saddam, and you can appreciate that they wanted to bring him to justice.

Question from Alison: Mr. Graham, are there several independent translators working the trial for accuracy?

Fred Graham: There are several who take turns, because that is a tiresome job. The Iraqis made a mistake today, in not turning down the volume of the speakers in the courtroom as the translators voiced-over their English version. It made it hard to hear the English version. They'll learn.

Question from Sissy: I'm confused by the noise in the courtroom. Are the defense attorneys placed in the back and they yell?

Fred Graham: The court made a mistake, in my judgment, in segregating the defense lawyers in the back. How can they be effective if they don't sit with their clients?

Question from deb: Mr. Graham, is it true that Ramsey Clark is one of Saddam's attorneys?

Fred Graham: Ramsey was listed as one of Saddam's lawyers early on. But recently Saddam fired all his lawyers, including Ramsey.

Question from Alison: Mr. Graham, why aren't they using international judges when it's so likely those judging this trial will face tremendous threats if they rule against popular consensus in their respective communities?

Fred Graham: That's a point that's been made by the lawyers at the Hague, who wanted to try the case there. The current leaders in Iraq were not about to let others try Saddam. They pressured the judges to start today, before the parties were really prepared, and that's why they had such a quick recess.

Question from timsgal: If they sentence Saddam to death does it take years to execute as it does in our country?

Fred Graham: The Iraqis have a law that we should consider in this country. Every death sentence must be carries out within 30 days. That may be a bit rushed for our system, but it's an idea to consider.

Question from Alison: wow

Question from deb: Mr. Graham, if Saddam fired all his attorneys then who is representing him?

Fred Graham: He has a little-known Sunni attorney. This delay in the trial may continue until early next year, and it may give Saddam's family a chance to bring in other lawyers. Saddam's daughter is calling many of the shots in his defense.

Question from but: But he gets 14 trials? That's a long time.

Fred Graham: It's possible, but the betting is there will be two trials, and then they'll hang him. The Kurds want to try Saddam for his atrocities against them. So there are two courtrooms in that building, back-to-back. The rumor is that they will start a second trial in that courtroom, while the current trial is still going on. Then Saddam will be shuttled back and forth between the two court rooms, being tried simultaneously in two cases. Then they'll probably declare themselves satisfied, and hang him.

Question from Alison: Mr. Graham, how will the Iraqi President's comments stating that Saddam should be executed 20 times over affect this trial?

Fred Graham: Remember when President Nixon declared that Charles Mansion was guilty? There was a huge flap and Nixon took it back. This goes well beyond that, but it didn't seem to scandalize the Iraqis.

Question from deb: Mr. Graham - do you know anything about the security practices needed to handle this trial in Baghdad?

Fred Graham: I'm intrigued at how the Americans have stayed out of sight, since they are orchestrating much that is happening, and they have Saddam in custody and won't turn him over to the Iraqis. I suspect that every time his Iraqi guards take him out of the court room the Americans nab him right on the spot and take him away from his Iraqi guards for safe-keeping.

Question from wn: Mr. Graham, is this a sham trial? I mean is there any chance that when they are done they will acquit him?

Fred Graham: No chance. That doesn't mean it's a sham trial. The prosecutor's opening statement today made it seem that they have strong evidence against Saddam. He was right there when his motorcade was fired upon, and there is video film of him taking over the investigation of the attack. Apparently they can show he started the retaliation right on the spot, which led to the execution of 148 men and boys and the imprisonment of everybody else in the village.

Question from hedge: Is the sum total of the appeals process the 9 member court of judges trying him?

Fred Graham: There is a mandatory appeal. I think they delay the sentencing until that is over, then they impose the sentence and carry it out.

Question from digger: Mr.Graham If and when he's found guilty and he's sentenced to death would it be carried out in Iraq?

Question from timsgal: Will the hanging be out in public?

Fred Graham: I believe the custom in the Middle East is to execute people in public. Surely they would want to do that with Saddam, but they'd have to have lots of security.

Court TV Host: Any closing thoughts?

Fred Graham: American courts should have as much good sense as the Iraqis, and conduct important trials on television. That way, the world can decide for itself if justice has been done.