Saddam Hussein was found guilty today, Sunday, and sentenced to hang for his crimes.
On Baghdad streets citizens are dancing.
As might be expected, Saddam Hussein was a bit chagrined and unhappy with the decision.
Whilst the verdict was delivered, Hussein refused to come to his feet and had to be lifted by the equivalent of two court bailiffs.
Hussein was convicted of ordering the deaths of 142 Shiaa men and teenaged boys in the town of Dujail in 1982.
I submit that those were the least of his crimes but — one makes the best of what one has when one has them.
Here’s a shocker: “Amnesty International described the trial as ‘a shabby affair marred by serious flaws.’ “
Newsflash to Amnesty International: it was also a trial held in his own country by his fellow countrymen. It is their court system. It was their procedural system. US military personnel did not preside. Whatever conclusion was reached, was reached by his fellow Iraqis.
Tough shit, Saddam. Thems’re the breaks.
The moribund EU, of course, has to weigh in:
The EU opposes capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and it should not be carried out in this case either,” Finland, current holder of the rotating EU presidency, said in a statement.
Also, not to be outdone:
Before Saddam and Barzan Ibrahim appeared, Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of the Revolutionary Court that issued the execution orders against Dujail residents, was sentenced to death. He screamed “Allahu Akhbar” (God is Great) as Rahman delivered his verdict. The judge flicked his wrist and ordered the guards to drag Bandar back to his cell.
So how many persons died under Saddam Hussein? From a quite liberal website:
Tom Grey answers David Crow’s request the empirical basis for his statement on the number of dead under Saddam Hussein. “See http://www.gbn.org/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=2400&msp=1242. Here is an excerpt:”:Along with other human rights organizations, The Documental Centre for Human Rights in Iraq has compiled documentation on over 600,000 civilian executions in Iraq. Human Rights Watch reports that in one operation alone, the Anfal, Saddam killed 100,000 Kurdish Iraqis. Another 500,000 are estimated to have died in Saddam’s needless war with Iran. Coldly taken as a daily average for the 24 years of Saddam’s reign, these numbers give us a horrifying picture of between 70 and 125 civilian deaths per day for every one of Saddam’s 8,000-odd days in power.”
And that consists of those that are known.
Saddam: see ya; wouldn’t wanna be ya.
BZ
Excellent, comprehensive post!! If anyone deserves the death penalty Saddam Hussein does, and hanging is too good for him.
There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam IS an evil and diabolical man and that this verdict is a ‘just’ finding, but the ‘fat lady’ ain’t singin’ just yet, she’s not even tuned up…
“The death sentences automatically go to a nine-judge appeals panel, which has unlimited time to review the case. If the verdicts and sentences are upheld, the executions must be carried out within 30 days.”
Here’s the part I am uncertain of, is this 9 judge panel like a ‘Supreme Court’?? Do they need a ‘majority’ only or a unanimous ‘yea/nay’ vote to carry out a capitol sentence??
And if there is a unanimous vote needed, either way, to carry out the death sentence or commute them, who’s to say that there won’t be ’strong arm’ corruption tactics applied to the court panel, it’s not like it hasn’t already been tried…
To Bloviating Zeppelin
On Saddam, America, War, Muslims, And Political Coreectness.
Chance: When the verdict was read Saddam was shocked and when he finally did stand up he stared trembling with fear. Remember David westerfield the San Diego man who raped and killed that girl remember when they announced the verdict guilty he stared trembling and shaking with fear and anger. Saddam trembling started yelling in Arabic God is great. Now Saddam will be executed they may turn around and give him life in prison. Iraq is a lost cause and our military soldiers I have no doubts are frustrated being over there and the reality is the American government plans to attack Iran and Syria, and will fight the whole Muslim world and Israel will help America.
If Saddam is executed this could trigger a backlash from other Muslim countries. I feel we are headed for world war three actually we are already in the beginning phases of it now. And it does not matter whether republicans or Democrats win the elections and the future presidency after Bush the same Bush policies will continue. America is going to become a police country and certain parts of America will be governed by third world people and the only way the American government will be able to control America and hold it together is through military and police force but this is going to help cause a civil war combined with fighting China, North Korea, and The Muslims will guarantee America’s destruction internally and externally and immigrants from Mexico and south and central America will repopulate what’s left of America. America will become a new nation Spanish will be spoken here and America will become a mulatto nation.
I may live to see it maybe not but it will happen. I meant only to comment about Saddam B. Zeppelin, but other emotions can into play and I had to keep it honest and tie it all together meaning put all of the potential world events and future events together. I prefer to speak freely and I want you to speak freely B. Zeppelin, about how you feel about an issue forget political correctness sometimes, political correctness has its place but sometimes it can be used as a weapon to silence truth that need to be said in public.
I just got finish commenting at another blog that I guest write for and I wrote about genetics and we pulled over 220 comments of serious hard core intellectual debating with no political correctness.
Politcal correctness has its place but sometimes it needs to be placed on hold.
Take care, B. Zeppelin
By Chance
America I Reincarnated In You Feelings Of Sadness And Thankfulness
Chance: In this incarnation I am glad I reincarnated in America — she has raised me as a mixed blooded son. When my European Forefathers brought my African forefathers over here as slaves and they both encountered my Native America Indian forefathers little did they know that a great sexual union would be the result. You see these three mixtures created me (Chance), I can often feel the genetics of each one of them working in me I can even tell what centers (parts) of my body are being influenced by which of the three racial groups. All three combined with my soul shape the way I view the world. I feel so sad sometimes knowing that someday Europe will no longer speak of Beethoven, Mozart, Kings and Queens, French revolution, Sir Oliver Cromwell, Christopher Columbus, and general white European history because it is being conquered by non-whites from all over the world.
Chance: I feel sad that Africa is suffering so much mainly due to black on black violence and black leaders being corrupt. And seeing how certain Arabs (not all Arabs) enslave blacks and certain blacks enslave blacks as slaves still to this day.
Chance: I feel sad knowing that someday the Native America Indians that great Red race — which I am partly mixed with will some day, become extinct.
Chance: I feel sad knowing that black and white Americans potentially have unfinished business left between them that could end in a racial war with both sides eliminating millions.
Chance: I am glad that the SUBLIME ONE (God) allowed me reincarnate in America so I could experience various ethnic cultures and learn to appreciate them all. Also understanding that I am the result of many ethnic cultures mixed in one called America.
By Chance
LMC: Hey, TF makes a good point: but wait, there’s more.
TF: True. Good question about the consist of the court and the makeup of its numbers and the numbers required for an affirmation. At least they made it this far on their own steam.
Chance: Those are very interesting points and thanks for your input. I wish I could tell you that I believe there was no chance of those things occurring, but I cannot. Saddam being executed within that 30 day period may in fact stir the hornets nest again — or, perhaps, it might tend to quell the violence a tad. It is clear that violence in Iraq has increased because of our election period.
Also, it is good that you are thankful; one thing I’ve noted is that newly naturalized citizens (one in my neighborhood in particular) are much more appreciative and knowledgeable about this country than many of my fellow nationals.
BZ
“Tough shit, Saddam. Thems’re the breaks.” LOL! You have such a way with words, BZ. 🙂
I think it will be a year or so before any death sentence is carried out. We probably won’t have seen the last of him for awhile. 🙁
To B. Zep
Thank you for for responding B. Zeppelin
By Chance
Gayle, you are likely correct. But in any event he was dealt with, in their own way, by his own nationals. That is the important part of the equation.
Chance: you are quite welcome.
BZ
I look back at the end of this tyrant and also at my previous on running the numbers. For all of those who died because of him, his wars, his terror upon his own people and onwards as a megalomaniac, I put their minimum toll at 1.2 million dead. Hundreds of thousands displaced. And an unknown number just *missing*.
Now their stories are coming out.
And people dare to ask: Was it worth it?