Death of a Poet
And a writer of romance novels. Yes, the rumors have it that this famous author, Saddam Hussein, is going to be executed this weekend. Yeah, I figure they are just rumors, but the world will likely lose the services of poet and romance novelist Saddam later in the New Year, that’s for sure. [...]
And a writer of romance novels. Yes, the rumors have it that this famous author, Saddam Hussein, is going to be executed this weekend. Yeah, I figure they are just rumors, but the world will likely lose the services of poet and romance novelist Saddam later in the New Year, that’s for sure.
As speculation rose that the execution is near, the condemned former president met at Camp Cropper with his half brothers Sabawi and Watban Ibrahim Hassan, both of whom are also in U.S. custody, said one of his attorneys, Bushra Khalil.
“He met with them and he gave them some things. I’m not sure what,” said Khalil, speaking by phone from Amman, Jordan, where she plans to meet today with Hussein’s eldest daughter, Raghad.
Hussein’s lawyers said they had not been notified of the execution date.
Hussein, 69, seemed in high spirits Thursday as he shared untitled poems he wrote recently and well wishes for the Iraqi people with his visitors over lunch, said attorney Wadood Fawzi, one of those who met with Hussein.
The Nobel Committee is watching closely.
Richard’s Update, 12:28PM: Just in from the AP, Saddam will “be executed by Saturday”. Apparently, the Bush regime has transferred custody of Saddam to the Iraq government, and his execution could be imminent.
I want to stress again: no one believes that Saddam is a good guy. But he was George H.W. Bush’s man in the middle east for a long time - and there is a long list of U.S. government entanglements with Saddam. While no one will mourn his death, you have to wonder, what’s the “rush to execution” all about? He was in U.S. custody. There was no apparent reason to rush to hand him over for hanging to the Bush regime’s puppets in Iraq.
I think I understand the gambit - the Bush regime is hopeful that Saddam’s execution will either (ultimately) quell the violence, or give them a reason to escalate the conflict. It’s hard to say, but perhaps they want to see how it works out before the new congress is sworn in.
Still, there are serious questions about both Saddam’s trial, the involvement of the U.S. government, and Bush’s reason for going after him in the first place. The bottom line is that dead men tell no tales.
I think the administration is desperately looking for a pretext to attack Iran. Maybe hanging Saddam will stir things up and provide it.
And also looking for a distraction for the American public at a time when its policies are widely rejected — simple message: “we brought this bad guy to justice, so that makes the whole clusterfuck worthwhile.”
The media frenzy on the possible forthcoming hanging of Saddam reminds me of April 1979 - when General Zia al-Haq carried out the hanging of Pakistan’s former leader, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Different times, different geopolitics, but if it hadn’t been for the Soviet invasion of Aghansistan 8 months later Zia would have been toast because of that action.
One other thought…I think the Administration would just as soon get Saddam permanently silenced before the trial related to using poison gas on Kurdish villages really takes off, since there is some U.S. complicity involved there and they wouldn’t want Saddam’s defense team to start bringing in those unpleasant historical facts.
I agree with Maxcrat, they sure as hell didn’t want the gasing of the Kurds brought up in a trial.
Yep, as soon as we heard he had been turned over to the Iraqis you knew that time was up. Couldn’t take the chance on his escaping. They had to kill him fast. God, this whole thing is so gruesome. First thing I saw when I turned on tv this morning was a man having a noose placed around his neck. I’m looking at a man’s last moments of life. I thought I was going to be sick. No, I’m no Saddam fan, I just can’t condone killing as punishment no matter who it is.