Squiggler

Saddam Hussein - chilling finality!

“He just gave up,” said Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq’s national security adviser. “We were astonished. It was strange. He just gave up.” He added: “Saddam Hussein is gone. All Iraqis will look to the future after the end of this era.”

And the most chilling part of all, after you get over the size of that noose, is the reaction  of some here in America. Gateway Pundit has a roundup that will turn your stomach. It begins:

If Ever You Needed Proof of American Leftist Insanity- Look Now!

By Gateway Pundit

There is an enemy in America- Powerful -Shrill- Self-Hating - It has never been more obvious, it has never been more open... than it is today- mourning Saddam!

It is not a fringe element.
It is not a minority.
It is the voice of today's American Left.

Links and quotes that are even more shocking in their ignorance than the visuals of Saddam's hanging. Check them all out.

Grainy and graphic. Not exactly professional quality. Warning, this is the whole hanging video taken with a cellphone. (Hat tip: Flopping Aces):

 

Other video (Hat tip Gateway Pundit):

HotAir also has a video clip from FOX News of his hanging.

FOX News released video later today from a different angle.

BBC- Iraqi state TV showed images of Saddam Hussein going to the gallows before dawn in a building his intelligence services once used for executions.

Saddam execution imminent - Saddam is now history! (Update)

 

Saddam handed over to Iraqi authorities, all signatures finalized. Execution could take place at any time.  All U.S. forces on "High Alert."

Join Curt and the Flopping Aces readers at:

Swinging Saddam - Live Thread

Caution: graphic pictures

Wizbang has running updates at:

Saddam Dead by Sunday

And typically, from the terrorist newspaper of record:

The New York Times Doesn’t Want Saddam Hanged

And another "Open Thread" at Red State:

An Open Thread

By [email protected] (Redstate Network) on War

   

Yes, I will celebrate. Yes, I will be happy. While I understand the positions of my friend John Cole and of Rick Moran, I disagree with them.

Sorry, I am not as understanding as Red State. I respect John Cole's decision. As for Rick Moran ... well there is nothing about him worthy of my respect. I know that is nasty to say, but truth is truth.

I am no big death penalty advocate. I do believe it should be used when face to face with pure evil. I would have executed Jeffrey Dahlmer and I have absolutely no problem with executing Saddam Hussein.

From Atlas Shrugs:

Saddam to Die Tonight 10 PM

By Pamela Geller Oshry on Iraq

***TOP THREAD SCROLL FOR NEW POSTS AND UPDATES ***

Pamela says: I just stole this pic from my  fellow infidels at IBA .

I stole it from Pamela. Hey, good things need to be passed along.

An interesting set of poll numbers passed along via email from the lovely Larwyn:

Europe, yes Europe, backs the "death sentence" for Saddam Hussein in a recent poll:

82 percent of Americans are in favour of Saddam's death penalty, compared to
69 percent of Britons,
58 percent of French,
53 percent of Germans and
51 percent of Spaniards.

Only 46 percent of Italians support sentencing Saddam to death.

At 6:10 AM Baghdad time, Fox via Al Arabiya is reporting that Saddam died at 6:00 AM Baghdad time. (7 PM PST)

Graphic: Lucianne.com  

May he be met not by 70 virgins or by Allah, but by all the souls he tortured and killed over his lifetime of pure evil. May his final rest be one of turmoil and agony.

Saddam: Death by hanging!

FNC -- Saddam Hussein Sentenced to Die by Hanging

It's official! Finally! Will DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Senator Jay Rockefeller celebrate with the Iraqis today? They both think Iraq would be better off with Saddam still in power. CNN's Ted Turner said this past Monday that Iraq was no better off now than under Saddam. Somehow the Iraqis do not seem to agree.

AP--A bailiff pulls down Saddam Hussein's arm as the convicted killer objects to his death sentence.

   

Video: Former Iraqi dictator launches tirade upon hearing death sentence

Death penalty for Saddam Hussein

   

Saddam trial verdict

Iraqis hit the streets in celebration, despite curfew.

Celebratory gunfire rings out in Baghdad; clashes reported between police and gunmen in Sunni-dominated north

                      

 
Shi'ite residents chant anti-Saddam slogans in a street in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad (Reuters)

Iraqis burn Saddam in effigy. (Reuters)

Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

US-sponsored Iraqi tribunal sentences former dictator to death by hanging Sunday for crimes against humanity. Court also hands down death sentences to two of Saddam's senior aides

Associated Press

Published:

11.05.06, 11:04

Iraq's High Tribunal on Sunday found Saddam Hussein guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to hang, as the visibly shaken former leader shouted "God is great!"

His half brother and former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, head of the former Revolutionary Court, were sentenced to join Saddam on the gallows.

Saddam Hussein at court Sunday (Photo: AP)

After the verdict was read, a trembling Saddam yelled out, "Life for the glorious nation, and death to its enemies!" He initially refused Chief Judge Raouf Adbul-Rahman's order to rise. Two bailiffs lifted Saddam to his feet and he remained standing through the sentencing.

As the proceedings finished, clashes broke out between police and gunmen in north Baghdad's Azamiyah district, which is dominated by hardliners from among Saddam's fellow Sunni sect. In contrast, celebratory gunfire rang out in many other parts of the city.

Sunnis condemn verdict

The verdict was immediately condemned by the head of the second largest Sunni bloc in parliament, who predicted it would spark even greater bloodshed between Sunnis and the country's majority Shiites, who were heavily persecuted under Saddam's more-than two decades of authoritarian rule but now largely control the government and security forces.

"It was not wise and the government, not the court, has gone to the extreme with issuing this sentence, even in advance," Salih al-Mutlaq told the al-Arabiya satellite television station.

"This government will be responsible for the consequences, with the deaths of hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of thousands, whose blood will be shed," Al-Mutlaq said.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants had been tried by the Iraqi High Tribunal over a wave of revenge killings carried out in the city of Dujail following a 1982 assassination attempt on the former dictator.

Saddam faces additional charges in a separate case over an alleged massacre of Kurdish civilians. It wasn't clear when a verdict would be announced in that other case, or when Saddam's sentence would be carried out. Before the trial began, one of Saddam's lawyers, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, was ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a memorandum in which he called the Saddam trial a travesty.

Judge Raouf Abdul-Rahman pointed to Clark and said in English, "Get out."

Curfew in Baghdad

Guarding against violence, Baghdad was placed under a total curfew, with shops shuttered and pedestrians and vehicles almost completely absent from the streets of the city of six million people. Iraqi security forces and US troops mounted additional patrols, but no major incidents had been reported.

"There is close cooperation between Iraqi and coalition forces in maintaining the curfew," Said police Maj. Mahir Hamad Mousa of the al-Khansa station in Baghdad's Jadeeda district ."We have fully prepared for this duty," he said.

The guilty verdict for Saddam is expected to enrage hard-liners among Saddam's fellow Sunnis, who made up the bulk of the former ruling class. The country's majority Shiites, who were persecuted under the former leader but now largely control the government, will likely view the outcome as a cause of celebration.

Even with the verdict imminent, Saddam's lawyers and some Sunni politicians had called for the court proceedings to be suspended.

Barazan Ibrahim al-Tikriti's, Saddam's half brother is also sentenced to death!


• Hussein trial featured comedy, tragedy and chaos

• Fast Facts: Key Figures in the Saddam Hussein Trial

• Saddam Urges Iraqis to Not Take Revenge on U.S. Forces

• U.S. envoy says Saddam verdict "important milestone"

RELATED:

HOT AIR

Death For Saddam!  (Stop the ACLU)  Looks like the ol’ rope and tree justice.

Pajamas Media is reporting out of the Tel Aviv bureau, with live blogging, blog reaction, and Establishment Media roundup as well.

Omar at Iraq the Model writes: "Now, Saddam is officially going down the toilet!"

Pajamas Media Baghdad editors Mohammed and Omar Fadhil, of Iraq The Model, write their first impressions after Saddam Hussein’s death sentence was delivered.

I was overwhelmed with joy and relief as I watched the criminals being read their verdicts. For the first time in our region tyrants are being punished for their crimes through a court of law.

Until this moment and while I’m typing these words I’m still receiving words of congratulations in emails, phone calls and text messages from friends inside and outside the country. These were our only means to share our happiness because of the curfew that limits our movement.

This is the day for Saddam’s lovers to weep and I expect their shock and grieve to be huge. They had always thought their master was immortal so let them live in their disappointment while we live for our future.

This is a day not only for Iraqis but a historic day for the whole region; today new basis for dealing between rulers and peoples are found.

No one is above the law anymore.

I was particularly pleased by the way Judge Raouf Rasheed handled the session; he was reading the court’s decision and at the same time chastising members of the current government for their misbehavior and threatened to throw them in custody regardless of their ranks!

We are living a new era where there’s much hope despite the difficulties…our sacrifices have a noble cause, that is to build a new model that obviously terrifies other tyrants.

I believe it wasn’t Saddam alone who was shaking and shouting in hysteria when the verdict was read; I can see hysteria takes over all of Saddam’s followers and apologists.

Today we had turned a page that was full of pain and ugly crimes that were committed by the same criminals who were shaking in the hands of Iraq’s new justice.

We are so happy for you too Omar and Mohammed. The whole country celebrates with you.

Remember this? Saddam hauled out of his rat hole -- (H/T: Atlas Shrugs)

UGH, talk about ruining a moment. Dan Rathergate is running his mouth on FOX. Talking trash about it "just being a verdict." That Saddam is not dead yet. "He is not yet dead. He'll find a way out of this yet." "Saddam is a survivor"  He is rooting for that shit head.

"He 'll make a deal. "He's cunning, he's very, very smart.He's not a madman." (uh Dan, you would know about madnss eh?)

"The last time I talked to Saddam Hussein, he denied he had  WMD. You Americans can't take the blood."  Wait, wait it gets better (or worse I should say.)

Which is the bigger putz? Hard one to answer, Dan Rather or Saddam Hussein?

Iraqis Roar as Officials Drag Ramsey Clark From Court!

By Gateway Pundit

"No, Ramsey... You are the mockery! Get him out!!"

Judge Abdul Rahman to Democrat Ramsey Clark
Saddam Hussein Trial Verdict
November 5, 2006

Democrat Ramsey Clark is dragged from the courtroom today...
Iraqis Cheer!

Iraqis applaud as one of Saddam's lawyers, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, seen on the screen is ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a memorandum in which he called the Saddam trial a travesty during sentencing session to former leader Saddam Hussein. (AP)

KOFI, KERRY, THE EU AND SADDAM'S DEATH SENTENCE

By reliapundit

It's a good day when evil scum like Saddam find out they shall be justly executed. And this good day has arrived courtesy of the courageous and INTELLIGENT and WELL-EDUCATED and EXPERTLY TRAINED TROOPS IN TGHE US ARMED FORCES. God Bless Them All. And may God continue to grant us a government that will not kow-tow to genocidal tyrants or Euroweenies and Europhiles or appeasing Leftists useless international debating clubs like the UN. IOW: may we NEVER elect a majority of Democrats to either body of Congress.

Saddam Death Verdict Sign of Iraq’s Progress

By Amy Proctor on Author: Amy Proctor

Saddam Hussein, formerly known as the “Butcher of Baghdad”, was convicted for “crimes against humanity” and genocide and sentenced to death by hanging.  Look for US liberal news outlets to join with Al Jazeera in questioning the timing and the legitimacy of the trial.

This death sentence for Saddam Hussein is reminiscent of every other milestone in Iraq since the 2003 liberation of that country by coalition forces. Each event, particularly the elections, was downplayed by critics. They cautioned us against believing the event was significant, warned of massive violent attacks that never came and most importantly underestimated the strength and resolve with which Iraqis want Democracy in their country. Iraq has an independent judiciary that has pulled itself together and sustained itself very quickly.  It is simply wishful thinking for anyone to believe that either the judiciary or any part of the Iraqi government is a puppet of George W. Bush.

Saddam’s case will automatically be sent to the Court of Appeals and this defendant will go through a process of appeals that could take as long as a year to resolve. Once the final appeal is exhausted, the death sentence, assuming it is not overturned, will take place within 30 days.

This is another reason the United States needs to remain in Iraq. Aside from the fact that Iraq will dissolve into the kind of quagmire Democrats are currently pimping it to be, Iraq is far more vulnerable with Saddam sitting in a jail cell with a deteriorated Iraq and no US forces to back up the Iraqi security, police and military forces.

Meanwhile Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said of the verdict:

“He is facing the punishment he deserves.   The verdict placed on the heads of the former regime does not represent a verdict for any one person. It is a verdict on a whole dark era that has was unmatched in Iraq’s history.”

And this is too much. The looney left responds. People this is who you are electing when you elect a Democrat. Do you really want to be associated with the likes of these crazies? This is only a sampling, LGF has more.

Moonbats Erupting in Anger

In Saddam Hussein

A sampling of the comments at Huffington Post about Saddam’s death sentence. (Hat tip: Right Brain.)

Behold, the Democrats’ base.

Saddam is a far better man than George W. Bush ever thought about being.

By: shrike on November 05, 2006 at 07:58am

[...]

wow are bush, cheney, rumsfield and rice next?seems to me the killed about as many innocent iraqis as saddam did, and about as many innocent , trusting troops as civilians we lost on 9/11

By: stamper on November 05, 2006 at 07:35am

[...]

Now how about going after George Bush.

By: waxxx on November 05, 2006 at 07:36am

Saddam guards buried detainees alive - Good God what a horrible story!

Every time I read about another of Saddam's atrocities, I want to go find Cindy Sheehan, John Murtha, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and the whole Code Pink crowd and just thottle them one by one. Anyone, and I mean absolutely anyone, who thinks that Iraq would be better today if Saddam were still in power is nuts bordering on psychopathic.

Prison guards under Saddam buried detainees alive

Female prisoner testifies at genocide trial

BAGHDAD — The genocide trial of Saddam Hussein resumed Monday with testimony that his troops buried prisoners alive and abused female prisoners by shackling them for hours in the sun and firing over their heads as they bathed.

Saddam and his six co-defendants are on trial for offences allegedly committed against Iraqi Kurds during a crackdown in the late 1980s. If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to death by hanging.

One woman, who testified behind a curtain and whose name was withheld apparently for fear of reprisal, told the court she was 13 years old when she was detained during the crackdown.

The woman said Iraqi troops destroyed her village in northern Iraq in 1988 and that she and some family members were imprisoned in southern Iraq.

A prison warden she identified as Hajaj “used to drag women, their hands and feet shackled, and leave them in scorching sun for several hours,” she told the court.

“Soldiers used to watch us bathe,” she added, saying the guards would also fire weapons over the women’s heads as they washed.

The woman said several relatives disappeared during the offensive.

“I know the fate of my family (members). They were buried alive,” she testified.

The prosecution presented the court with documents showing that remains of the women’s relatives turned up in a mass grave.

“I’d like to ask Saddam: ’what crime did women and children commit’?” the witness said.

The court heard from three other witnesses, including farmer Abdul-Hadi Abdullah Mohammed, who testified that his mother had died in detention. Several other family members went missing in 1988 and are presumed dead, he added.

Jalil Lateef Saleh, 64, said he, his wife and young daughters were arrested in 1988 after an attack on their village. Prison guards separated him from his family and he has not seen them since, he said.

“They tore up my identity card and threw it into my face telling me that I was an Iranian and didn’t deserve the Iraqi ID,” he testified.

Saddam and his cousin, “Chemical” Ali Hassan al-Majid, are facing charges of genocide in the trial. Five others on trial face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Saddam and the other defendants sat silently as the trial resumed after a 12-day break. They were not represented by lawyers.

Related:

Grave found of 18 Kurds 'buried alive' during Saddam rule

September 4, 2006 AFP -- Iraqi security forces have found the remains of 18 Kurdish men, women and children whom they believe were buried alive in a mass grave during the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

Colonel Sarhad Kadar of the Iraqi police said Monday the mass grave had been found in Tarkalan 25 kilometres (16 miles) southeast of the northern city of Kirkuk in the grounds of an abandoned military camp dating from the 1980s and 1990s.

"They were alive when they were buried," he said.

During the late 1980s, Saddam's forces carried out a brutal scorched earth campaign against northern Iraq's Kurdish minority in a bid to stamp out separatism and secure Kirkuk's oil fields.

The former strongman was overthrown in 2003 in a US-led invasion and is now on trial in Baghdad accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in an operation which prosecutors say killed 182,000 Kurds.

Saddam Hussein hospitalized

Does anyone really care? Apparently Saddam's hunger strike, in its 17th day, has landed this pathetic excuse in the hosptial and on a feeding tube.

Saddam on the 17th day of a "hunger strike", is now in a hospital.

Protest against court procedures
Saddam, 69, and three others — presumed to be co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim, Taha Yassin Ramadan and Awad al-Bandar — have been refusing food since dinner on July 7 to protest the Iraqi High Tribunal procedures and security for their defense attorneys, three of whom have been slain.

Saddam and the others are charged in a crackdown on Shiites in the town of Dujail following a 1982 assassination attempt against the Iraqi leader. Final summations have begun, and the next session is set for Monday.

But Saddam’s lawyers said they would boycott Monday’s session. Saddam was not scheduled to appear in court until Wednesday, al-Moussawi said.

The hunger strike was launched after the June 21 slaying of Khamis al-Obeidi, the third member of the defense team to be assassinated since the trial began in October. The defense team has blamed Shiite militiamen for al-Obeidi’s death.

HEADLINE

Saddam Hussein's defense team walks out and judge barrs them from the courtroom.

New defense lawyers appointed by the newly seated chief judge who is taking a firmer hand than his predecessor.

Saddam walks out in protest.

Court resumes with witness testimony about the torture a woman and her family suffered while imprisoned by Saddam. She testified behind a curtain.

The twenty minute delay for TV and the stumbling flat monotone translation makes it hard to get a true sense of what is going on, but it seems chaotic compared to the formal structure of the U.S. court system.

It is clear that Saddam is truly evil and delusional, but still crafty. And definitely in major  denial.