Iraqi Judge: Saddam Execution Today or Tomorrow

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 11:35:25 AM EST
Tags: Saddam Hussein (all tags)

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Saddam has been transferred to Iraqi custody.

Saddam Hussein has been transferred from U.S. custody, his lawyers said, and an Iraqi judge authorized to attend the former dictator's hanging said he would be executed no later than Saturday.

The physical hand-over of Saddam to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he was to be hanged, although the lawyers' statement did not specifically say Saddam was in Iraqi hands.

"A few minutes ago we received correspondence from the Americans saying that President Saddam Hussein is no longer under the control of U.S. forces," according to the statement faxed to The Associated Press.

"Saddam will be executed today or tomorrow," said Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld Saddam's death sentence. "All the measures have been done."

Larissa adds her thoughts here.

Another reader writes in,

The extremely short duration of the post-conviction process in Iraqi death penalty cases. Whatever one thinks of Saddam Hussein's trial, the same law applies to other people against whom their may be much evidence. Should the US be supporting a judicial death penalty system whose level of due process falls so far short of our own system? Not only are we supporting it militarily, there actually are or have been US federal prosecutors in Iraq prosecuting actual cases including death penalty cases.

< A Perfect Trial? Who Needs Due Process? | Police Indicted in New Orleans Shooting Spree >

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Iraqi Judge: Saddam Execution Today or Tomorrow | 19 comments (19 topical)

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Time dot Com (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:05:52 PM EST

Spare Saddam
by ROMESH RATNESAR

By most codes of retributive justice, execution is the only worthy end to such a brutal life. But it is also a mistake.
It's not that I believe Saddam got a raw deal. Some opponents of his execution say the trial's flaws -- compounded by the climate of intimidation surrounding it, during which two defense lawyers and a judge were assassinated -- are sufficient to justify sparing his life.
...
Only Saddam's most ardent loyalists would argue that his guilt is still in question.
But the case against executing Saddam has little to do with justice.
...
It will not slow down the pace of Iraq's sectarian slaughter, which is being driven by an array of uncontrollable forces.
...
It should shame both Americans and Iraqis to hear a man as repugnant as Saddam presenting himself as a uniter and imploring Iraqis "not to hate." Executing Saddam won't extinguish those fires of hatred any more than it will relieve the pain of his victims.

From around the world (none / 0) (#4)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:10:16 PM EST

Comments on Saddam Hussein's impending execution


Great link, Edger, but I see that most... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:25:26 PM EST

...of those quotes come from politicians, statesmen, and citizens of CIVILIZED countries (and Jesse Jackson).

bush and the neocons don't care what the civilized world has to say and the civilized world no longer wants to hear from them.

Blood and circuses for the masses controlled by the enemies of civilization.


Morning, Bill. (none / 0) (#7)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:33:51 PM EST

Yes, well...how to put this?

Unfortunately, "civilized" seems to have become the background reality against which Bush, his administration, and his supporters, not being part of that background, can be seen clearly. Having separated from it they cast a sharp shadow on it.

No?


I get it now, we're all, including Saddam, just... (none / 0) (#9)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:37:36 PM EST

...props in bush's self-made imperial "reality."

Thanx for clearing that up for me.


: IOW (none / 0) (#10)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:47:16 PM EST

Yes, he's definitely "out there", alright. He has to find support where he can, I suppose. They should be showing up here shortly I imagine...

HAhahahahahahahahahahHAhahahahaha (none / 0) (#16)
by peacrevol on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:58:13 PM EST

And Jesse Jackson...zing...pow...right in the kisser...nice

It certainly appears that way, which is why it bothers me that Iraq doesnt seem to consider the input of the rest of the world on an issue such as this. The world is much bigger than the strange relationship between Iraq and the US, and IMO the Iraqi govt is doing itself a misservice by not taking input from the rest of the world in its newest days as a govt. And we, as their "liberators", if I can borrow that term from the media, should be stressing that point. That is if our sole goal is to help liberate the Iraqi people...But then again, what does the US govt know about liberation? - I'm just saying...


: I'm pleased you caught the jackson reference. (none / 0) (#17)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 02:10:21 PM EST

It was intended just as you took it. LOL
(Although I really harbor no personal animus towards the man - I don't know him well enough to form an opinion.)

Chess Game (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by squeaky on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:05:00 PM EST

But the news that Saddam Hussein would be executed soon and then the news that it would be in the next 48 hours boggled my mind. Why on earth would anyone want to set off an ideological bomb during an already chaotic situation? I do not defend Saddam Hussein, not by any measure. But when Iraq is falling into total chaos and civil war, and as American troops continue to die, why would anyone want to add fuel to that fire, enough fuel to destroy what is left?
And why anyone want to enrage the Muslim world by executing a Muslim, publicly, during Hajj?
....In the meantime, naval carriers are deployed to...Iran

Larisa Alexandrova has a theory

: This dovetails quite nicely with some of... (none / 0) (#12)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:18:58 PM EST

...the comments under the posting about commencing tests of the draft system.
I commented on it HERE and stand by my suppositions.

: Larisa sees clearly (none / 0) (#14)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:34:36 PM EST

What the Bush administration appears to be waiting for, stalling for, while they allegedly mull over the Iraq question is for the naval carriers and other key assets to fall into position. This will happen in the first week of January.
...
The carriers will be in position and I imagine there will be an event of some sort in Iraq, even more so than the immediate violence set off by Saddam's execution. The attacks will be blamed on Iran, with the help of the Saudis and Pakistan. Iran will be blamed for something that happens in Iraq. The naval carriers, again, will be in position.
...
What they don't seem to realize is that the Persians are the most expert of chess players and they are a patient, strategy minded opponent.

1.) Cheney Says Dems Can't Stop Bush's War With Iran
2.) Currently in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean
3.) Plans for Redrawing the Middle East: The Project for a "New Middle East"
4.) The New Totalitarianism. Rule Through Barbaric Annihilation

Media circus indeed... (none / 0) (#1)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 11:48:00 AM EST

TV plans tasteful coverage of Saddam execution

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Television networks face a killer of a conundrum with the impending execution of Saddam Hussein, whose hanging could be videotaped and perhaps aired on Iraqi TV.

It seems they want to get it done before the outrage volume around the world gets turned too high...

Tasteful coverage?

Broken (none / 0) (#2)
by Edger on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 11:49:38 AM EST

link above


As long as they can get it done before: (none / 0) (#5)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:16:25 PM EST

...Saddam has a chance to spill the beans as to where he got all the chemicals he needed to gas his people and the complicity of Rumsfeld, Cheney, and bush 1.

This has to be the single-most disgusting display of "bloodlust" I have ever witnessed in my life.

For once in my life I am at a loss for words as to the incredible thirst for blood on the part of political parties, the newly-formed government of Iraq, and the sheer speed with which they seek to kill Saddam.

He's in custody, poses no threat (except to American interests), and should be tried for his other offenses.

Political expediency. No wonder bush is considered the worst villain on earth; this is his show, his call, his puppet government, his desire to kill his daddy's enemy, and his evil on display.

Will they throw darts at his lifeless body hanging there?

Mornin', edger, aw, Sailor, everybody.


: Bill A - Really? (none / 0) (#18)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 04:54:42 PM EST

This has to be the single-most disgusting display of "bloodlust" I have ever witnessed in my life.
Well, there was that school in Russia that the terrorists killed the children in...
And Daniel Peral's head being sawed off...

Tasty (none / 0) (#8)
by squeaky on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 12:36:07 PM EST

The commercial networks are doing a tasty test to see whether televised executions in the US will be a hit.

KFC, Crispy Creme, Haliburton, GE, Fox, and others are funding the study.


bill, let me clue you in: (none / 0) (#13)
by cpinva on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:29:05 PM EST

saddam got all that stuff from, well...........us. geez, everyone knows that, no big secret there.

how does one tastefully cover an execution? do you put doilies on the gallows? where the heck is miss manners when you really need her? and what's with the all the fuss and bother of a hanging? good grief, a 9mm to the back of the head and it's done. quick, efficient, send the bill to the family.

squeaky, i prefer a mild salsa with nachos. i say do 'em in the public square, make a day out of it. pack the family & a picnic lunch in the car, get there early for the good seats.

so, saddam as "martyr", or saddam as pathetic lifetime prisoner, who might also be the spark for continued insurgency? damn tough call there.

: ????? Clue me in? I have written many... (none / 0) (#15)
by Bill Arnett on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 01:36:20 PM EST

...times of American complicity with Saddam, even in a post above, so I am REALLY confused as to HOW I need to be clued in to what is, for me, common knowledge that has long been in the public domain.
Could you clarify, please?

: I hate to agree with cpinva on anything (none / 0) (#19)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 04:58:16 PM EST

But he's right. If you are going to execute anyone it should done in public, and (hopefully) for the public good.
Will Saddam be a martyr or spark? I think neither, but time will tell.