Saddam Hussein Executed...

[Beta]

What did the executioners do that was bad? I didn't watch the video so I am unaware.

[Zeuslax]

Sonny, I agree the moderate Muslims have been marginalized and have not created a large forum to speak out about this perception. However, that doesn't change the facts. There may be many that sympathize with the radical ideology and support it with loud cheers. This doesn't mean that they are willing to strap bombs to their kids or themselves. Taking to the streets, burning the US flag and hanging Bush in effigy all the while chanting death to America is very different.

A few things get lost in this whole discussion......quite frankly, I think this is what "they" want. All of the major powers are moving their pieces on the global chess board in the middle east. It all boils down to that Texas tea........aka black gold. It's not a renewable resource and the year 2016 is looking a little rough when it comes resource projections. This whole mess in Iraq is just a small byproduct of democracy, terrorism, radical Islam and any other peripheral discussion.

[StrykerFSU]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/world/middleeast/31gallows.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The general prosecutor asked Mr. Hussein to whom he wanted to give his Koran. He said Bandar, the son of Awad al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court who was also to be executed soon.

The room was quiet as everyone began to pray, including Mr. Hussein. “Peace be upon Mohammed and his holy family.”

Two guards added, “Supporting his son Moktada, Moktada, Moktada.”

Mr. Hussein seemed a bit stunned, swinging his head in their direction.

They were talking about Moktada al-Sadr, the firebrand cleric whose militia is now committing some of the worst violence in the sectarian fighting; he is the son of a revered Shiite cleric, Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, whom many believe Mr. Hussein ordered murdered.

“Moktada?” he spat out, mixing sarcasm and disbelief.

Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq’s national security adviser, asked Mr. Hussein if he had any remorse or fear.

“No,” he said bluntly. “I am a militant and I have no fear for myself. I have spent my life in jihad and fighting aggression. Anyone who takes this route should not be afraid.”

Mr. Rubaie, standing shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Hussein, asked him about the killing of the elder Mr. Sadr.

They were standing so close to each other that others could not hear the exchange.

One of the guards, though, became angry. “You have destroyed us,” the masked man yelled. “You have killed us. You have made us live in destitution.”

Mr. Hussein was scornful: “I have saved you from destitution and misery and destroyed your enemies, the Persians and Americans.”

The guard cursed him. “God damn you.”

Mr. Hussein replied, “God damn you.”

Two witnesses, apparently uninvolved in selecting the guards, exchanged a quiet joke, saying they gathered that the goal of disbanding the militias had yet to be accomplished.

The deputy prosecutor, Mr. Faroun, berated the guards, saying, “I will not accept any offense directed at him.”

[StrykerFSU]

More interesting reading...

If this Iraqi court was nothing but a puppet who's strings are pulled in Washington, why did the execution go forward while the U.S. asked for a delay?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/02012007/325/saddam-hanging-nearly-halted-jeers-prosecutor.html

U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad urged Maliki to delay the dawn execution for two weeks, till after the long Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, a senior Iraqi government official told Reuters. But he relented when Maliki insisted and provided an authorisation also from Iraq's Kurdish president, the official said on Monday.

[Zeuslax]

Stryker - I've read completely different quotes of the incident. They were chanting Moqutada, but they were suppose to be referencing his father. A leader that most agree Saddam had murdered. Also, The last reference by the prosecutor must be new.....in the translated piece that I saw he was trying to quite the men down and saying this is not right, the man is getting ready to die.

Interesting to say the least. I don't think the full and accurate story is out yet.

[Adam Gamradt]

I found the references to Al-Sadyr to be interesting. I understood it as a reference to the current crazy guy.

I thought, one of Saddam's last comments was about "long live Muqtada", in a sarcastic tone. The gaurds we're chanting the name of their current leader, the one who's obviously envious of Saddam's place in the line of power, and now has a good chance, due to the power vaccum we created.

Perhaps 30 years from now, we won't have to catch the next generation of Iraqi leaders we're equipping, training, and motivating.

Cliff, you paint with too broad brush for a man of your intellect. I found this discussion interesting, and I've not found an interesting discussion on here for some time.

Sonny, your comment about all Muslims' standing silent is so ridiculous, I won't even respond, simply shameful.

As far as the execution is concerned, I don't think Saddam had a right to die without some jeering. As a man, I can still be made ill by the behavior of my fellow man. The fact that we can't discuss our disagreements, and still resort to hanging each other by the neck, or sawing off each others heads, makes me sad. It also makes me want to figure it out, so I ask a lot of questions, of myself, of my friends and coworkers, and especially of OUR government. People stopped asking questions for a while there after 2001. Over the past five years, I've been labled a traitor, an unpatriotic and ungreatful American, because I objected to this ridiculous and unecessary war from the start. President Bush and his brand of neo-Mcarthyism has done more damage to our country in 6 years than I could, were I a million people, by simply asking questions.

I am dissapointed in my country, because I do not buy for a second, the idea that what we did to Iraq is simply spreading democracy.

Call me a partisan hack if you want, but don't accuse me of being blind because people choose to close their eyes. My thoughts are my own, they are reasoned, and they are the product of years of intellectual effort and curiousity. I do not represent the left, the liberal media, nor any particular brand of tree huggers, though I'm fond of maple. I am lucky to be a member of the lacrosse community, so I get to post my thoughts.

That is a very interesting article from the times. I will make sure to read it fully. It's clear I misunderstood the context of what I saw of the execution.

I also realize this is not the proper forum to discuss my supposedly radical ideology. If you like, I've started a live journal. I would welcome your perspective anytime. If you're interested, send me a PM. If not, no worries, I always enjoy your posts here.

[sohotrightnow]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/ ... index.html

Oh the irony. This coming from a man who mocked a woman after she was put to death under his watch as Governor of Texas.

[Beta]

Oh the irony. This coming from a man who mocked a woman after she was put to death under his watch as Governor of Texas.

Im suprised the Karla Faye Tucker ordeal never held anymore shadow over Bush.

[sohotrightnow]

Im suprised the Karla Faye Tucker ordeal never held anymore shadow over Bush.

Yeah, so am I. Bush being a "compassionate conservative" and all. I think he forgets that the "internets" is a powerful tool and can track down virtually anything somebody has said or done.

[Beta]

Im suprised the Karla Faye Tucker ordeal never held anymore shadow over Bush.

Yeah, so am I. Bush being a "compassionate conservative" and all. I think he forgets that the "internets" is a powerful tool and can track down virtually anything somebody has said or done.

Well The Google is getting stronger and stronger everyday.

[Beta]

Sohotrightnow, any reason why you're going out of your way to make fun of the SELC???

[Gregg Pathiakis]

Body of Saddam in morgue.... VERY GRAPHIC... even more so than the cell phone video of the hanging.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c5daa5b733