. . . not this time. He seems to assume Saddam will be tried by an international tribunal instead of by Iraqis. It'll probably be the latter.

A fair trial would at least accept the elementary moral principle of universality: The accusers and the accused must be subject to the same standards.

Not a problem if the accusers are his fellow Iraqis, trying him under a constitution that makes murder retroactively illegal.

For a truly fair trial, it's surely relevant, as an abundance of congressional and other records show, that Washington made an unholy accommodation with Saddam during the 1980s.

I disagree. The fact that foreigners may have condoned his actions or helped him commit them is immaterial to whether he's innocent or guilty of committing murder. They won't be the ones on trial.

Now, those responsible for the policies of accommodation are bringing Saddam to the bar of justice.

And Saddam's henchmen will testify he ordered them to commit murders and they carried out those orders. Forensic evidence will be presented, Saddam will be found guilty and executed.
I don't see how that's unfair.