He’s dead:
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been executed, according to two Arabic language media outlets. Earlier, an Iraqi judge told CNN Hussein would be hanged before dawn on Saturday in Iraq, (10 p.m. Friday ET). The former president was convicted of crimes against humanity in connection with the killings of 148 people in Dujail.
It was filmed:
It was witnessed by a doctor, lawyer and officials. It was also filmed.
It’s an important step but probably not the transformative one that many of us hoped for years ago. Still, few tears will be shed for this monster. Well a few folks may mourn, the Baathists in Iraq and the people at Time Magazine possibly, but hopefully the rest will take this opportunity to look forward and continue working towards a peaceful democratic Iraq.
They’re chearing in Michigan:
A crowd of Iraqi-Americans cheered and cried late Friday outside a mosque as some Arab media reported that Saddam Hussein was executed.
The crowd of more than 150 had gathered earlier in anticipation of Saddam’s execution, praying for the death of the former Iraqi dictator as people honked car horns, sang and danced in celebration.
Chants of “Now there’s peace, Saddam is dead” in English and Arabic rang into the night in this Detroit suburb.
U.S. networks are struggling, are at least pretending to struggle, with the ethical questions raised by the videotaped execution:
“We’re very aware that we’re coming into people’s living rooms and that there could be children watching,” CBS News senior vp Linda Mason said.
Mason and her network counterparts have broadcast standards and procedures they follow in these cases. Phil Alongi, special-events executive producer at NBC News, said there are ways the network can approach the video or photographs that will get the point across without having to be graphic.
The operative word: taste.
“We have very, very strict guidelines with how to deal with that,” said Bob Murphy, senior vp at ABC News. “If there were pictures made available of the execution, they would have to be viewed by senior management before we would put them on the air, and we would make a judgment of taste and propriety of what we would show.”
The operative word is taste? This is American television we’re talking about right? Anyway, it doesn’t matter - there’s always YouTube. And South Park.
Stuffleufagus: I have no problem with executing Saddam. He was evil. Truth is, I wish we would have bombed him to oblivion early in the war, along with his sons. Nobody deserves my sympathy if they systematically kill defenseless women and children. But now Saddam is dead. What changes? Is Iraq suddenly safer today? Will our troops be coming home tomorrow? Will Iraqi’s be safer tomorrow?
TV Squad: I never thought I’d see the day when the words “Saddam” and “tasteful” were in the same sentence, but that day has arrived. Word is coming from the Iraqi government that Saddam Hussein will be executed by hanging by Saturday at the latest, and they will tape the entire thing. If that happens, the networks are saying that the coverage of the execution will be tasteful, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Now, they’re not doing it out of respect to Saddam, of course; they’re doing it out of respect for their audience. They won’t air the full video if the Iraqi government makes it available for broadcast. “We’re very aware that we’re coming into people’s living rooms and that there could be children watching,” Linda Mason, a senior VP for CBS News, told THR. Since the war started, network news executives have considered using graphic video footage on a case-by-case basis, often editing it down to make it more palatable to audiences.
The Life and Times of Me: And I didn’t pray because I was afraid that I would feel guilty - like I was the one who made Ben die. And every day since, I have lived with guilt that I could have prayed one last time for comfort, and peace, acceptance, and a peaceful passing. For that very reason, while laying on my bed watching the news that Saddam was to be hanged in a few minutes, when I felt prompted to pray for strength and peace for Saddam and his family, I did. The news coverage was going in the background, and I prayed for peace for Israel. And then I thanked God for his righteousness and justice, and prayed that when Saddam stood in judgement, that God would prove himself faithful, and judge him justly. And as I prayed it, I lifted my head, and the newsman said “I have just recieved confirmation: Saddam Hussein is dead.”
Michelle Malkin: Lots of talking-head heat over the fairness and integrity of the Iraqi war tribunal. The Case Western Reserve University Law School has a blog and website with tons of key original docs related to the trial. Go here and judge for yourselves.
Obsidian Wings: I have nothing to say about this. I can’t possibly regret his death, but there’s something ghoulish about the reporting today, which was like a death watch. Or maybe I just happened to tune into the news at all the wrong times. I hope everyone who predicts violence in the aftermath of his death is wrong.
Global Conservative: Saddam is dead. Mission accomplished.
The Jawa Report: Saddam Meet Satan, Satan, This Is Saddam
Related Content by Sphere
More Blogs of War:
Saddam Hussein’s Defense Attorney Told to Pick Up His Belongings
Saddam Hussein Execution, by Hanging, Within 30 Days
President Bush’s Statement on Execution of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein in Iraqi Custody
Saddam Begs for a Firing Squad
Filed Under:
Iraq, Saddam Execution
December 29th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Saddam, who had a lifetime murder record numbering anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 Kurds, prisoners, and family members, was executed just moments ago.
Peace groups and death penalty opponents around the globe are holding candle-light vigils in memory of their fallen dictator.
The ACLU is furious, threatening to sue the Iraqi government for cruel and unusual punishment. CAIR representatives said they would accept an out of court settlement.
John Kerry issued a statement claiming that he was against the execution of Saddam before he was for it.
Dick Durbin said he has never seen anything like this, and that it was reminiscent of the treatment people experienced in Stalin’s Gulags.
Jack Murtha claimed the execution would expose our troops to further harm, and that they should be re-deployed to the Antarctica.
Well anyway, Saddam is dead. Mission accomplished.
December 29th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
So Hussein is dead? Big deal. I mean, how many Bush administration nuts does it take to kill a dictator anyway? Could we have done it sooner for less than, say, $100 billion? If the Bushies think that this changes a damn thing about Iraq and what the hell we’re doing there then they would be mistaken. It doesn’t. Actually, it’s kind of pathetic. Hussein was a nut case and a tyrant to be sure. But le’ts not forget he was OUR nut case and tyrant in the 70’s, 80’s, and part of the 90’s until he did in the early 90’s what nut cases and tyrants usually do - go off half-cocked and invade a country. Hmmm.
December 29th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
um rose what makes you think you have the right to bitch about what is going on in washington or in iraq? in the long run the only thing soliders are doing in Iraq is fighting for THEIR lives, and so that you can bitch and complain about something that you have no buisness doing in the first place. you cant bitch and complain about our troops fight for YOUR freedom over there because you probably have no idea what goes on day by day over there. there are troops over there that are mentaly destressed because they might have loved ones (kid, wives/husbands, boyfriends/girlfriends, their parents, ect) and they dont know if they will even survive through the night. why dont you take a minute, pull your head out of your ass, and think about what you are saying because you have no idea what you are talking about. are you a polotition?..i think not. so why dont you just shut up and not say anything befor you make yourself look like more of a jackass than you already are. it is just the dumbest thing talking bad about the president..did you know that the president is not the power?..i bet you didnt cuz you didnt pay attention in law & government class in HIGH SCHOOL. yeah it talks about how the congress has the power.. so all this calling bush a nazi and comparing him to hitler is baicly offensive to this country that you live in. if you dont like the way the country is run the get the hell out because this country has no time to waste on people who think they know even a fraction of what goes on in office.. now take at least 2 minutes and think about what i am saying because it is completly relevent to what garbage you were talking about.. and all the stuff about nut cases.. where did you pull that from?.your ass? that is the most stupidest and childish thing ive ever heard.. and about the “I mean, how many Bush administration nuts does it take to kill a dictator anyway? ” thing is stupid becaus you are talking shit about our own leader..the person that helps uphold the fucking constitution…now in case you dont know what the constitution is it is a larg document that set the basics for this country that you call home..so stop, think, and keep your mouth shut miss ramblin rose.
December 29th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
i want to see the video
December 29th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
yeah so does everyone that wanted that person dead
December 29th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
I must say with how blunt the Post from some guy made. I agree with him fully. Saddam needed to die, and Bush really has no say in what happend. He was tried by a court. Faily might I add. This just goes with the age old saying. “What goes around Comes Around”
December 29th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
thank you for that mister hippie. and yes i agree because he killed some people now its about time some people killed him
December 29th, 2006 at 11:35 pm
You are welcome Some Guy. But The reason I agree with you has to do with my personall feelings about this guy. I do like Bush and think that he is doing an outstanding job for his position. He came into the leadershipe thing, with The acts of September 11th. Just happening. At that time we couldn’t go to war soon enough. Now all of a sudden we are all in the wrong. If we get attacked again will we stand together as a nation again? Why can’t people remember what they felt that day? We are making sure that we can’t have that situation happen to us again. Why do are we to quick to forget? I say one thing about Bush. I agree with you Bush. HE SHOULD HAVE HUNG! HANG HIM HIGH AND FOR A LONG TIME!
December 30th, 2006 at 3:11 am
How is his death a “milestone” in the War on Terror?
He never did anything to us!
How is this man’s death compensating for that of
Osama Bin Laden
Personally, I could care less whether Saddam is alive or dead; my question is,
“Why does it Matter?”
December 30th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Saddam is not dead! Don’t believe me? Look at the video on CNN.com pause it when you get a close up of his face, then find a picture of him during the trial, the man they have in the video is not the real Saddam, the beard is much too grey, the crows feet are missing around his eyes, this is merely another attempt by the Bush camp and the media to led the American public to believe that progress is being made in Iraq. How long does the US government believe they can fool the world? Is anyone else fed up with the corruption within the US Government?
December 30th, 2006 at 9:29 am
I am fed up with the corruption in the liberal mind. You people are surreal. Madcap www.globalconservative.com
December 30th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
At last! The tyrant is dead…
Saddam has finally been hung, and the authorities in Iraq did the right thing to carry out his execution ASAP….
December 30th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
im glad the son of a bitch is dead!!!! i want to see the video and laugh my ass of at him taking his last breath!!!
December 30th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Uncut Video Version of Suddam’s Execution at Hot Air…
I linked this as an update in my previous post, but in case you missed it…Check out Hot Air for the Uncut Video of Saddam Hussein, a spawn of the Devil’s Execution. More Videos not shown on the MSM (main stream media), check out Vinnie at The Jawa ….