Saddam sentenced to death by hanging; Update: Sentencing video added
posted at 4:08 am on November 5, 2006 by Allahpundit
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For his part in the massacre at Dujail, which I encourage you to compare to the Nazi massacre at Lidice. These guys all follow the same playbook; this particular game just happened to end a little differently.
Barzan al-Tikriti, the former head of intelligence, and Awad al-Bandar, the head of the Revolutionary Court, got the noose too. Taha Yassin Ramadan, his VP, was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life. Saddam himself wanted a firing squad. Instead they sentenced him like a common criminal, just the way Churchill wanted to do to Hitler.
The BBC has a short photo essay on Dujail. Here’s the last picture in the series. What follows is left to your imagination:
I’d recommend reading Omar’s post from 2003, too. He met a young doctor who’d grown up in the town and was there for the reprisals after the assassination attempt: “The women and children had their share, and this is what saw: extraction of nails and teeth, electric shocks, whipping with lashes, using razors to tear the skin into shreds, my aunt was left hanging from the roof after her clothes had been wrapped of her in front of her brothers to force them to talk. Do you know how much pain we suffered? Can you imagine? I doubt it.”
CNN has archival footage of the incident from 1982. Click the image to watch.
Dujail’s the tip of the iceberg, one notorious incident for which they had good evidence. The crimes against the Kurds have yet to be punished. But there’s small satisfaction, at least, in some of them having gotten to face the bastard down in court. This incident, for whatever odd reason, I find especially moving. “Congratulations Saddam Hussein – you are now in a cage!”
But not for much longer. Sic semper tyrannis.
Update: Many thanks to our pal in the UK, kasper kasper, for ‘Tubing this. From the BBC, here’s the man of the hour, Koran in hand, predictably screeching, “Allahu Akbar.”
Update: Reader Niko e-mails to note that Amnesty International is unhappy.
Update: Reaction at the Huffington Post.
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Excellent news!
Hanging is still better than he deserves, but it only shows that the people of Iraq can be merciful as well as long-suffering.
I wanted to see him thrown into the shredder feet first.
Long live Free Iraq!
Jen the Neocon on November 5, 2006 at 4:12 AM
Hangings too good for him.
JayHaw Phrenzie on November 5, 2006 at 4:13 AM
And there was much rejoicing.
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 4:17 AM
And another of the world’s worst finds his date with justice. May the souls of his victims rest in peace now.
Vincenzo on November 5, 2006 at 4:19 AM
Dare I say it?….
Bush’s fault!
TBinSTL on November 5, 2006 at 4:24 AM
Cleric: [reading] And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, “O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.” And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu…
Brother Maynard: Skip a bit, Brother…
Cleric: And the Lord spake, saying, “First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Brother Maynard: Amen.
x95b10 on November 5, 2006 at 4:24 AM
Jen, I understand your feelings, but actually, I wanted him executed by chemical weapons.
Ah, but mercy is sweet. Hanging it is.
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 4:25 AM
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. And what’s this about Ramsey Clark getting thrown out of the courtroom? Apparently, the poor baby is upset at his hero’s sentence.
Pablo on November 5, 2006 at 4:26 AM
Let’s try to focus on the important issues today, people: Reverend Ted Haggard and his gay prostitute.
Quit getting distracted.
see-dubya on November 5, 2006 at 4:28 AM
History in the making.
Iraqis, don’t waste your Freedom.
techno_barbarian on November 5, 2006 at 4:30 AM
gay drug dealer
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 4:30 AM
When will the sentence be carried out?
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 4:31 AM
MSNBC is already questioning the legitimacy of the court and suggesting this was timed to coincide with the U.S. elections. Unbelievable. I gauruntee you the MSM will try to downplay this as much as they can and try to spin it in the most negative way possible.
Scot on November 5, 2006 at 4:32 AM
saddam’s pitching a bitch.
techno_barbarian on November 5, 2006 at 4:33 AM
Allah, you are always on the ball. Caught it here before the ‘official story’ came out of the BBC and CNN websites(neither of which I get on TV)..Fox seems slow this morning. *sigh*
I agree with Christoph, alot of Iraqi’s are going to be partying in the streets today.
Also will echo Jen’s comment.
Long Live Free Iraq!
I don’t know the details of the Iraqi Court of Appeals process, but I’m sure we’re all hoping it’s faster than our system.
I know it’s cruel and inhumane, ect ect.. But I’d really like to see that boy get his neck stretched while I’m still young enough to enjoy it ;)
KeaponLaffin on November 5, 2006 at 4:35 AM
Wow… saddam didn’t even get headline treatment. Just another murderer on the list. Excellent.
Thanks W and all our Excellent Armed Forces, and all our Allies. Thank you very much indeed.
techno_barbarian on November 5, 2006 at 4:36 AM
I can see the evening news now:
6:29 PM
“Anchor:Oh, and before we end the newscast, a small story coming out of the Middle East, former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was found guilty of murder.
Co-Anchor(looks at Anchor):And we’ll be topping the 11:00 newscast with full coverage of the blogosphere’s outing of gay Republicans!”
Vincenzo on November 5, 2006 at 4:37 AM
Spoke too soon:
“This chapter of the much-criticized trial, which began in October 2005, comes nearly three years after U.S.-led forces plucked Hussein out of hiding and a few days before U.S. midterm elections on November 7.”
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/05/dujail.saddam/index.html
gotta love cnn
Vincenzo on November 5, 2006 at 4:39 AM
There is an appeals process. How long it takes, I don’t know. Too long, I’m going to guess.
Pablo on November 5, 2006 at 4:42 AM
It would be smart to try to get information out of Saddam in return for a few extra days of life. He’d probably show us some WMDs and name some US politicians he made deals with for a few extra gulps of oxygen.
Perchant on November 5, 2006 at 4:44 AM
Hear, hear, Perchant.
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 4:47 AM
Does anyone else remember that priceless moment when Iraqi officials where asked, just after Hussein’s capture, what they were going to do with him since the US interim government didn’t allow capital punishment? His response, as I recall, ran something along the lines of “the US may not permit capital punishment, but they’re leaving. We do.”
Great response! May the monster swing for his crimes just like the common thug he is. Makes thirteen months in that hole seem so much more worthwhile. Bravo to the Iraqi judges, witnesses, prosecutors, and all the other brave souls who helped condemn this monster! And may the souls of his victims rest a little easier.
Militant Bibliophile on November 5, 2006 at 4:48 AM
gotta love CNN? *snort*
Wait until Ramsey Clark fetches the Tooky Williams defence team to come in and save Saddam from the rope.
He’ll probably die of old age.
How I wish our guys had offed him when they found him in that spider hole, but as discussed above, a bullet’s way too good for him, too.
Something slow and painful…
Jen the Neocon on November 5, 2006 at 4:53 AM
Why do you bother?
I’m genuinely curious.
Ugly on November 5, 2006 at 5:11 AM
I kept waiting for Saddam to have the word “Bush” pass his lips.
Oh Well . . .
I still question the timing. . . .
iNeXuS on November 5, 2006 at 5:28 AM
Ugly, it added additional background to what see-dubya said. I agree with his point.
Christoph on November 5, 2006 at 5:31 AM
Great news ! So when do we start hanging the Gitmo 14 ?
Or will Nancy Pilosi step in to save them ?
BTW heard that Ramsey Clark was kicked out of the courtroom. Shame he wasnt sentanced as well.
William Amos on November 5, 2006 at 5:49 AM
Okay. As I’m an inveterate insominac, and nominal MSA linguist, I’m not at all happy with the “live translation” action on either CNN or FOX.
Both translaters are either spinning, or are not very good. (Good as defined by U.N. real-time standards. I’m not that good. But recognize good/bad translation as I hear it.)
Multiple references to “sharia law” which (conveniently or not) are being left out. (Granted, these Iraqi court officials are speaking fast.)
Kadnine on November 5, 2006 at 5:56 AM
GET OUT !
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061105/capt.efe52af499864833bbda76bf293b2253.iraq_saddam_ny107.jpg
William Amos on November 5, 2006 at 6:06 AM
Damn! Live feed is done. I just caught the last few minutes. Largely accurate translation, IMO, in as far as what the interpreter thought was relevent, though I still have a few quibbles over what I thought were relevant buzz-words. Arabic for “Sharia-law” for instance… never heard the translators mention that, though I did hear (in English) the words “Just,” and “appropriate,” round about the same time.
I’m an imperfect tranlator. But I suspect we may have heard some spin here.
Kadnine on November 5, 2006 at 6:10 AM
Where’s MEMRI on this? They normally do the heavy lifting RE: translation. (If they didn’t, I’d have to go back to school!)
Kadnine on November 5, 2006 at 6:16 AM
Apparently, Ramsey Clark had an attack of the vapors and had to be escorted out. Ha!
ahem on November 5, 2006 at 6:17 AM
Okay, now Maliki is speaking (FOX) and again I hear some translation spin:
(Arabic) “Sons of Iraq, defend your homeland… against all who oppose you… [including] Muqtada al’Sadr..”
(English) Pretty much everything above except Sadr... Hmmmm.
Kadnine on November 5, 2006 at 6:37 AM
Depending on the verdict, many news outlets were predicting a flare of violence (by Shiites and Kurds if innocent, by Ba’athists and Sunnis if guilty). Anyone heard anything? Kids are hogging the TV, so I have to rely on the net (again).
SailorDave on November 5, 2006 at 6:42 AM
Gah! And make a note of it… this is one of the few cases where I trust the English speaking, Western Media over the Eastern-anti-Western Media to whom the Western Media normally give defference.
This whole thing’s a mess, and I don’t just mean Iraq!
Kadnine on November 5, 2006 at 6:50 AM
How long will it take before the candle toting Kumbaya singers gather for a tear stained protest against this horrible atrocity?
Ellen on November 5, 2006 at 6:55 AM
Hanging is too merciful for this animal, I say they “Stone” him to death.
Viper1 on November 5, 2006 at 7:02 AM
Ellen, not long at all.
Amnesty Questions “Fairness” of Saddam Death Verdict
Pablo on November 5, 2006 at 7:21 AM
From what I’ve read, this “man” will get an automatic 30 days of appeal and when that’s up he’ll hang. He has at least 13 more charges to go through. I wonder if they’re going to hang him 14 times?
Suzy-Q on November 5, 2006 at 7:51 AM
I just have two questions:
1) How many appeals does he get.
2) Can we hang Ramsey Clark at the same time.
DoctorDentons on November 5, 2006 at 8:04 AM
BUH-Bye Saddam, there’s a special seat reserved for you in hell, right next to Hitler and across from Stalin.
Good news for satan, your boyfriend’s on his way!
Tony737 on November 5, 2006 at 8:08 AM
Tony:
I think you’ve nailed the plot of an upcoming South Park episode.
SailorDave on November 5, 2006 at 8:11 AM
I believe this is a strike against those in the US who have said, or would say that Iraq was better off under Saddam. It is clear that the Iraqi people do not feel the same way.
E L Frederick on November 5, 2006 at 8:13 AM
CBC Radio had a short report in which an Iraqi woman blamed the Americans. She said they’re just doing this to create more tension and civil strife. (Give me a break.)
Josephine on November 5, 2006 at 8:16 AM
How long until the crows are pecking out his eyes?
Mortis on November 5, 2006 at 8:30 AM
If his display of Bravery, after our invasion, is any indication, then I am looking forward to seeing or hearing about them dragging his sorry butt, kicking and screaming, to his death.
Of course, the A(w/t)P and MSM will portray this as Saddams BRAVE resistance to “Dubya”. Could this be the headline in the NYT “No WMD’s found! Was an innocent man hanged?”
Helloyawl on November 5, 2006 at 8:47 AM
As for the death penalty handed out today, it is automatically appealed. The sentence may not be carried out for some time, if at all.
However, in hopes of avoiding more bloodshed and a continuation of this circus, they should execute him for this verdict and try him for his myriad of other crimes in absentia. The hopes of his followers need to be squelched. Then they can go on showing the world the deeds of this monster.
Too bad Ramsey Clark wasn’t sentenced. He should be denied entry back into the USA.
The dems are already calling this “suspicious”. Remember, this is the “leader” that many, if not nearly ALL, of the loons on the left have said was better for Iraq and its people than our liberation efforts.
doingwhatican on November 5, 2006 at 8:58 AM
THANK YOU TROOPS!!
THANK YOU TROOPS for finding the murderous dictator in a spider hole and bringing him in so he could get his day in court.
THANK YOU TROOPS for maintaining the security needed for this trail.
THANK YOU TROOPS!
We know you deep inside you join the Iraqi people dancing for joy in the streets.
flagwaver on November 5, 2006 at 9:13 AM
This is interesting, if true:
Lawyer: Saddam urges Iraqis not to take revenge on U.S. ‘invaders’
Pablo on November 5, 2006 at 9:16 AM
YES!!!
I won’t relax until the bastard’s dead, and neither will any non-Sunni Iraqis, but it’s a good start. Now they need to get him in the ground. And then they can sell the rope on Ebay to help cover expenses.
ReubenJCogburn on November 5, 2006 at 9:22 AM
It’s too bad many of Hussein’s co-conspirators and liberal apologists can’t hang with him (ie. much of the UN, many EU leaders, Galloway, Chirac, Ramsey Clarke, and on and on). I’ll buy the rope.
liberty on November 5, 2006 at 9:25 AM
pwned!
i’ll be looking forward to the day they hang this demon.
Free Kurdistan on November 5, 2006 at 9:27 AM
hear, hear!
Free Kurdistan on November 5, 2006 at 9:37 AM
…we missed Hitler…we missed Pol Pot…Mao died in his bed and Castro will probably die in his, mourned from Paris to Caracas to Harvard Yard.
If the sentence is carried — and that is certainly an *if* — justice will have been done…although weak justice. The murderer of hundreds of thousands can only die once.
For all of our athiest and agnostic friends reading this, believe, if just for a second, that there is a Hell, and that slain innocents can look down from Heaven to see justice worked on the damned who stole their lives. Bloody-minded as it sounds, there indeed would be justice.
…I pray for the Iraqi people, for peace in the wake of this. Let him die and let us speak of him no more. May peace find its way to Iraq.
Puritan1648 on November 5, 2006 at 9:42 AM
Don’t get too excited until he actually swings.
Lehuster on November 5, 2006 at 9:56 AM
His statement, post verdict via his lawyer, about how there should be no sectarian violence was interesting. Complete 180 from prior.
p0s3r on November 5, 2006 at 10:06 AM
bout time.
One Angry Christian on November 5, 2006 at 10:24 AM
The short of it, he gets an appeal automatically, with no time limit on how the 9 judges review his case, if the sentence is upheld, then it must be carried out within 30 days.
Way back before this all started, I predicted that Saddam would get a long trial, followed by a short drop. Guess it’s up to the Iraqi Hangman, how short of a drop that is.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on November 5, 2006 at 10:51 AM
I can’t wait for the videos of him swinging at the end of the rope to hit the internet.
irishsquid on November 5, 2006 at 10:54 AM
What about the kite flying? I thought the Iraqi kids were flying kites and having fun? Cindy? Jimmmy? Anyone?
Coyote D. on November 5, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Bon voyage, Saddam. You raped, murdered, plundered, and stole billions from millions of innocent people. In spite of years of buttressing from American liberals and the coward class born in the United States, you will be publicly executed.
The pits of hell await you.
Spider Dan on November 5, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Now that his work is done in Baghdad ya gotta wonder what will be the next stop for the Ramsey Clark World Tour for Mass Murdering Despots ….. N. Korea, Iran, Sudan?
Don’t give up pal, there still could be a Nobel Peace Prize just around the corner?
fogw on November 5, 2006 at 11:03 AM
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