Saddam does have supporters after all. Lawyers from Jordan and France are seeking to visit him and represent him at an Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal:

Saleh Armouti and French attorney Emmanuel Ludot are asking the U.S. State Department for permission to visit Saddam, who is being held by the American military at an undisclosed location in Iraq after his Dec. 13 capture.

"As soon as we get the authorization from the State Department we shall travel to Iraq and meet with Saddam Hussein to get an official empowerment from him," Armouti told The Associated Press.

The Arab state, while maintaining close relations with the United States, also has historically strong ties with neighboring Iraq and relied on Saddam's regime for its entire oil supply. Jordanian professional organizations, including the bar association, have long supported Saddam, including during Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Bar association president Hussein Mejali said last week he believed Saddam was unlawfully deposed by coalition forces and unlawfully captured by U.S. troops.

Of course, Saddam's lawyers don't need to support him personally or his past actions or his regime -- only his right to a fair trial. We believe he should have a fair trial and a vigorous defense. But the tone of this article suggests that these lawyers support Saddam as well. Does that mean they will try to show his actions were justified? Or backed by the U.S. and other countries? How much power will the Bush Administration have in the decision as to who represents him in a foreign proceeding?

Update: More than 600 Jordanian lawyers have now volunteered to represent Saddam: