[Starkweather]

There had been conflicting reports as to when Saddam Hussein's sentence of death by hanging was to be carried out. It was reported that the United States would not turn him over to Iraqi authorities until immediately before the execution, in order to prevent him from being humiliated or abused. An adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saddam's death sentence would be executed before 0600 local time (2200 United States EST/0300 UTC) on December 30 - meaning about an hour before sunrise and the beginning of the feast of Eid al-Adha. The time was agreed upon during a meeting between U.S. and Iraqi officials. Saddam was executed 10:05 pm.

Three Cheers For Wikipedia.

[Rictor]

Noooo! Now who will testify in the forthcoming (I can dream, can't I) trials of Rumsfeld, Cheney and all the others who supplied Saddam?!

Ah, hell, good riddance. The Sunnis will remember him fondly, everyone else...won't. Though it does seem rather laughable to me that he was prosecuted and hung for the murder of 150 peoples when clearly his crimes are far larger than that. It's almost like winning on a technicallity.

[achtung]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6218485.stm

[Mefustae]

A scrolling headline read: "Saddam's execution marks the end of a dark period of Iraq's history."

Am I the only one who rolled my eyes when I read that?

[Mars]

A scrolling headline read: "Saddam's execution marks the end of a dark period of Iraq's history."

Am I the only one who rolled my eyes when I read that?

I threw up personally

[Rictor]

Am I the only one who rolled my eyes when I read that?

I imagine Saddam's eyes rolled back in his head, though that's probably not the same thing.

Note that it says "a dark perdiod", meaning there are many. T'was **** before Saddam showed up, **** while he was there, and certainly **** after. Those people love them some dark periods. It's like some people are addicted to smoking, Iraq is addicted to dark periods.

[Mars]

Well I quit dammit so Iraq can ****ing quit too

[Starkweather]

I predict this will be mentioned, and inveitably made funny by Gary Brecher, what do you think Rictor? Since I know you are probably the only one here who reads his articles.

[Bobboau]

normally this sort of thing doesn't phase me, but I was listening to the conservative radio shows all today while making deliveries, and the level of unmitigated, unqualified glee for this made even me feel a little disturbed.

[WeatherOp]

normally this sort of thing doesn't phase me, but I was listening to the conservative radio shows all today while making deliveries, and the level of unmitigated, unqualified glee for this made even me feel a little disturbed.

Even though I am a conservative, I must agree with you. The man deserved to be put to death, but just plain rejoicing over a man's death is disturbing.

[Rictor]

I predict this will be mentioned, and inveitably made funny by Gary Brecher, what do you think Rictor? Since I know you are probably the only one here who reads his articles.

I don't know, his death isn't that big a deal in tactical terms. It's just a symbol, like when Zarqawi was killed. Since the moment the US stepped foot on Iraqi soil, Saddam was never running things. Remember back when they trotted Saddam out for all the world to see his dishevled, beared shame, and they said that his capture was going to end the insurgency? If Iraq has shown one thing, it's that there is no Big Boss within the insurgency - hell, there's no ten bosses.

For a man who intended to be the new Saladin (ironic, considering he gassed Saladin's tribe) things haven't exactly gone according to plan. Although I can't help but wonder whether in a few years the US will be trying to ressurect his corpse, after figuring out that the only damn thing that's going to stabilize Iraq is a strongman, and that Saddam the only one with the huevos to do it. If there's one thing more awesome than a mustachioed dictator, it's a mustachioed zombie dictator. That would make Iran sweat.

[Rictor]

And now, in honour of Big S' untimely passing, I give you a series of comical drawings.

Saddam Hussein abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, we hardly knew ye.

[Maxwell]

I suppose its true you can even find sympathy for the devil if you look hard enough.  :

Its simply human nature to cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys. In the case saddam, unquestionably, was the iconic bad guy.   Some folks will celebrate his death just like they should shout out a huzzah at the violent climax of an action movie.

Saddam himself put these events in motion over 20 years ago and made no effort to avoid it.
After all this time and all the trouble he's caused, you really expect that his death could go by without a commotion?

[Bobboau]

now, I didn't say I didn't understand it or even sympathize with it a bit, I have no sympathy for the man, and think the world is probly a bit better today than it was yesterday with his passing, but I'm not putting on party music and dancing like some people have today, and I'm not even talking about people who would have a right to (the hundreds of thousands of his victims), I'm talking rich famous Americans sitting in a broadcast booth.

[Mefustae]

Meh, this was obviously more for propaganda value than any strategic or moral base.

Again, I must be the stickler to point out that the real criminals are still at large; inflicting far more damage upon the Iraqi populous than Saddam could have ever dreamed.

[Mars]

now, I didn't say I didn't understand it or even sympathize with it a bit, I have no sympathy for the man, and think the world is probly a bit better today than it was yesterday with his passing, but I'm not putting on party music and dancing like some people have today, and I'm not even talking about people who would have a right to (the hundreds of thousands of his victims), I'm talking rich famous Americans sitting in a broadcast booth.

Funny... I get the sinking suspicion that we've just pissed even more people in Iraq off and now they'll have more reason to take up arms and drive us the hell out of there, but I'm a cynic.

[Quest_techie]

well, it was a civil war anyhow, now this'll get spin, somebody will pick up a martyr, more people will die, go USA

[Bobboau]

if bombing them and occupying there country for years didn't do it, do you realy think killing someone else they hate that we basicly inflicted on them is going to change anything?

[achtung]

Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!Martyr!

You get the idea.

[Janos]

I suppose its true you can even find sympathy for the devil if you look hard enough.  :

No, I just think death penalty is wrong on ethical reasons and so do quite a few people. That has nothing to do with what Saddam did back in the 1980s. edit: ok 90s too

Its simply human nature to cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys. In the case saddam, unquestionably, was the iconic bad guy.   Some folks will celebrate his death just like they should shout out a huzzah at the violent climax of an action movie.

Saddam himself put these events in motion over 20 years ago and made no effort to avoid it.
After all this time and all the trouble he's caused, you really expect that his death could go by without a commotion?

Good and bad guys in international stage? laffo

OK, so in 1980s Saddam wages a war with Iran where a lot of people die. Then in 1991 he just kinda goes crazy and decides to annex Kuwait, getting his ass kicked but still staying in power. Then he puts down rebellions quite harshly.

In 2003 USA decides that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. "No we don't", say the Iraqis. "No they don't", say the inspectors. "BOOYAH", says the US and attacks Iraq even though Iraq submitted just before the war to allow unconditional inspections. Iraq dives into complete chaos, then Saddam (who now was actually a target of aggression mind you!) is found, put through a long farce and an abortion of a trial, then quickly hanged.

SADDAM WAS A REALLY MEAN BAD GUY THE WORST DICTATOR EVER TOTALLY DESERVED THIS LOL