SADDAM’S DEATH: A SAD ENDING TO A SAD CHAPTER IN HISTORY
I see nothing remotely funny about the impending hanging of Saddam Hussein - a verdict I agree with but devoutly wish could have been handled better by all parties concerned.
Neither do I see anything at all to celebrate. It is embarrassing the way that some of the righty blogs are playing with this story. It is not a time for snark. Nor is it a time for juvenile posturing or ginned up, testosterone-laden high fives. Before you engage in such celebratory behavior, please imagine the million ghosts Saddam and his henchmen created and then imagine them screaming out their last agonizing moments on this earth. Think of the grieving families they left behind. If that doesn’t sober you up, try conjuring up images of the tens of thousands of women who were brutally raped in front of their fathers or husbands or the many thousands of children who were tortured in the presence of their parents.
No, there is nothing funny about killing this brute, a man who has shown no remorse nor the slightest flicker of regret at the trail of dead bodies he has left in the wake of a life spent torturing and murdering anyone who opposed him. The fact that the world knew of this brutality and did nothing about it - including the US government who marginally assisted the beast in his war of conquest against Iran - only goes to show that anyone who believes in the efficacy of the UN is only kidding themselves. Tyrants like Saddam will exist as long as the governments of the world carry on business as usual with the despots while trying to block the screams of their victims from conscious thought.
Saddam may have been a particularly brutal tyrant. But the difference between his regime and the regimes of dozens of others around the world is only a matter of degree - thousands dead or tortured instead of hundreds of thousands. It says a lot about humanity at this stage of our evolution as a social species that we can be so sanguine about the murderous depredations of a Robert Mugabe or a Islom Karimov simply because the body count hasn’t achieved the elevated status of a Saddam or a Kim Jung Il. We in the civilized world can tune out the cries for succor from the oppressed rather easily - international law, free flow of oil, international commerce, even the War on Terrorism - take your pick. One excuse is as good as another.
I wish I could believe that hanging Saddam will make other tyrants pause and clean up their acts, hoping to avoid suffering a similar fate. But you and I know that is wishful thinking. What is more probable is that the dictators will redouble their efforts to stifle opposition thinking it will guarantee their security - at least from their own people.
But in the end, whether it’s having your neck snapped by a taut rope or dying peacefully in your bed, the criminal oppressors who cause so much human misery and suffering will all come face to face with their own mortality. And I have to believe that as the curtain rings down on their existence, the cold hand of fear will grip their failing heart as they contemplate an eternity that may include torments far surpassing those they meted out during their useless, failed existence on this planet.
UPDATE
Allah thinks that the deed will be done by 4:00 PM eastern time today. He says he will have the video if its available.
We’re all adults and can make up our own minds whether to view someone hanging until dead. I will say that Ogrish (no link - find it on your own) had some video of a hanging (from Burma, I believe) that was, in the words of Henry Tunstall from the John Wayne movie Chisum , describing a hanging he witnessed as “ghastly.” A good descriptive for what I saw. The beheading videos were much more graphic and actually caused me some queasy moments.
Will I watch it? I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Also, make sure you keep a window on your screen open for Michelle Malkin’s expected round-up of react from blogs, from the MSM, and from her readers.
Kuwait’s “Not to Forget” Museum; Saddam’s date with death
***scroll for updates…1147am Fox News reporting hand-over of Saddam from US troops to Iraqis has taken place…*** Bill Ardolino, on his way to Iraq for his first embed tour, visited Kuwait’s “Not to Forget” Museum–a “timely place to be,” Bill…
Trackback by Michelle Malkin — 12/29/2006 @ 12:31 pm
Well spoken Rick.
Saddam is one of many evil men. His death means nothing to those who have beared witness to his crimes; to those who still bear witness to crimes of other leaders.
It’s not something to party about.
I won’t watch a video. No thanks. Just be done with it- and have some dignity with it. Not that he deserves it, but…
Comment by Raven — 12/29/2006 @ 12:59 pm
Swinging Saddam - Live Thread
News that Saddam may be swinging by a rope within a few hours: 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…
Trackback by Flopping Aces — 12/29/2006 @ 2:01 pm
Butcher of Baghdad in Custody of Iraqis
Saddam Hussein has been handed-over to Iraqi Authories by U.S. troops. The former president of Iraq, the evil dictator, known also as the “Butcher of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein will dangle within hours from a rope. The death sentence has been signed by …
Trackback by Assorted Babble by Suzie — 12/29/2006 @ 2:05 pm
[...] Update: The best I have seen on this matter in the Blogosphere is, not surprisingly, by Rick Moran. As usual he and I see things very much the same way. He just says it better. [...]
Pingback by The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » The Hanging Of Saddam Hussein — 12/29/2006 @ 3:26 pm
[...] Rick Moran, as always, has a serious look at the situation, noting the gravity of the event and it’s historic influence… [...]
Pingback by Right on the Right » Saddam Hussein Hanging Coverage — 12/29/2006 @ 3:43 pm
[...] Rick Moran calls it a sad conclusion to a sad chapter in history. [...]
Pingback by The Anchoress » The Execution of Saddam Hussein — 12/29/2006 @ 5:18 pm
[...] Right Wing Nut House » SADDAM’S DEATH: A SAD ENDING TO A SAD CHAPTER IN HISTORY [...]
Pingback by Right Voices » Blog Archive » Must See TV: Saddam To Die By 10:00 P.M. EST — 12/29/2006 @ 6:09 pm
A sad ending to a sad chapter in history
It is embarrassing the way that some of the righty blogs are playing with this story. It is not a time for snark. Nor is it a time for juvenile posturing or ginned up, testosterone-laden high fives….
Trackback by The Shape of Days — 12/29/2006 @ 6:53 pm
Rick, you put your heart and soul into this post, and I thank you. Well done sir, well done!
Comment by GM Roper — 12/29/2006 @ 8:01 pm
I agree with you Rick, regarding the snark.
It’s worth noting that US forces are reportedly holding Saddam until the last minute to ensure he is not humiliated or abused prior to the execution and are strongly urging he have a dignified burial afterwards. There are no doubt several reasons for it, among them that we are diminished by such behavior.
Having lost most of my extended family under Stalin, I know too well the importance of releasing the ghosts to rest.
Comment by Robin Burk — 12/29/2006 @ 8:12 pm
Saddam to hang at dawn on Saturday
See the whole cartoon at Cox and Forkum with commentary. (I didn’t have enough time to re-size it)
It’s official.
BAGHDAD, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein will hang at dawn on Saturday, Iraqi officials told Reuters, setting a dramatic e…
Trackback by Cao's Blog — 12/29/2006 @ 8:51 pm
One More Death Doesn’t Really Matter
Executions bother me. A lot! For moral and religious reasons, I am anti-abortion, anti-euthanasia because, except in war and self defense, I feel that God has given us life and we should be loathe to take it. For this reason, I am also against capital …
Trackback by GM's Corner — 12/29/2006 @ 10:03 pm
See a sarcastic visual of George Bush playing a round of “Hangman”…here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com
Comment by Daniel DiRito — 12/29/2006 @ 10:49 pm
The world is a better place today…..
Saddam has been hanged. Unfortunately, based on what he did to his thousands of victims, that was too good for him.
I did like this well said quote from a piece over at http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2006/12/29/saddams-death-a-sad-ending-to-a-sa
Trackback by A Slower Pace — 12/29/2006 @ 11:14 pm
I agree with you. A little dignity would be nice.
Comment by Terrye — 12/30/2006 @ 6:26 am
Hussein Hanged
The government of Iraq carried out Saddam Husseins death sentence early Saturday morning. Following denial of his final appeal, the former dictator was hanged before dawn. No Americans were present, in what Iraqi national security advisor Mowaffak…
Trackback by The Random Yak — 12/30/2006 @ 6:42 am
What’s most interesting about the spectacle is watching the media do what they do best, nothing. Not a peep of anything having to do with U.S. support of Saddam, before, during, and after most all of his worst crimes. Not a peep about how up until the day before Kuwait Bush I gave him another billion. Not a peep about how the U.S. helping him gas the Iranians. Not a peep about how, with the help of the C.I.A., he was put into power in the first place. Not a peep about the illegality of the war in the first place. Not a peep about much of anything other than he’s dead. Yea! Whoopee! We helped kill a killer who we supported! Yea for us! There’s little doubt that this was nothing more than a political action and probably had little to do with law at all. For if it did, and we’ve decided to actually start applying the laws, for once, there are a few others who will no doubt be in trouble pretty soon. This is pretty much a case of “Look how great it is the monster’s gone!” “Look what WE did!” “We got him!” “Everything can be better now!” (Camera 1: Pan to the 100 or so cheering Iraqis screaming “He’s dead! He’s dead!”) (Camera 2: Cut to one of the “legal experts” to keep everyone busy so that we don’t have to talk about all of those things kb mentioned above) (CUT to commercial selling Hanging Saddam dolls at The American Enterprise Institute. Zoom in on Kissinger punching the gallow door drop over and over) Get ready for the “in-depth” interview with three pundits who go into great detail about where the gallow was constructed, whether or not Saddam was wearing Old Spice when he refused the hood, and if his last meal was some of the spam they found in his hole in the ground. (After that just push the replay tape loop button and go on home for the week.) You’ve all done a really good job at showing what really happens in the world. Yes, we ARE the “liberal media” and do such a great job of really shedding light on how the real world works.kb
Comment by kb — 12/30/2006 @ 7:27 am
I don’t know, Rick. I definitely picture the hundreds of thousands of his victims throwing one heck of a party in heaven right now. But maybe that’s just me.
Comment by Doug — 12/30/2006 @ 9:33 am
Hey, KB, nice rewrite of history. Little history lesson may do you good. Specifically, the Carter administration that set all of this into motion with the overthrow of the Shah.
Just another wonderful achievement of Dhimmi Carter.
Comment by Doug — 12/30/2006 @ 9:34 am
Watched the coverage last night and got really angry, as usual, with cnn and anderson cooper. He and pundits on his show were saying that the U.S. had been in complete control of the trial and the execution and thats not so. The Iraq government was in control of his trial and his execution.
I personally won’t watch any video of this as I never did watch innocent Americans being beheaded by TERRORIST THUGS but I am glad the world is rid of this horrible man.
It seems alot of defectors in Dearborn, Michigan were happy last night as I probably would have joined them if my relatives had been slaughtered by this monster.
Comment by Drewsmom — 12/30/2006 @ 2:02 pm
you are all fouls he was a great man and a hero to as all
Comment by rsoulman — 12/30/2006 @ 5:31 pm
“with the help of the C.I.A., he was put into power in the first place.”
Wrong. The CIA helped the Baathists gain power, but not Saddam specifically (which happened years later).
Also, the US gave Saddam less than one percent of his arms. Go cry to Europe and Russia, the folks that armed him up until 2003.
Comment by Shawn — 12/30/2006 @ 9:52 pm
Once again, people who bring up our support of creeps and dictators never get around to mentioning what we supported them against. “Right-wing” dictators who kill thousands versus communist dictators who kill millions. Saddam versus a fanatical Iran. No mention of the hard choices between bad and worst.
Why is that?
Comment by Chris — 12/31/2006 @ 8:26 am
Right Wing Nut House: SADDAM’S DEATH: A SAD ENDING TO A SAD CHAPTER IN HISTORY
Link: Right Wing Nut House: SADDAM’S DEATH: A SAD ENDING TO A SAD CHAPTER IN HISTORY. The Right Wing Nut House completes a very thoughtful article on the end of Saddam and his hanging. He even takes a shot at
Trackback by The Command T.O.C. — 12/31/2006 @ 8:46 am
“Why is that?”
Because a lot of people like to pretend that we always have to be perfect. Remember in our most noble of wars, the Second World War, we sided with one of the most barbaric totalitarian regimes in history to destroy a crazed loon on a messianic quest to eliminate all the undesirable races.
Comment by Shawn — 12/31/2006 @ 9:30 am
Hmmm.. I was struck by how much the video resembled the video of the (horrible) beheading of Nick Berg. Hooded executioners, a definite lack of solemnity for this exceedingly solemn moment.
It would have been far, far better if Saddam’s “trial” had been objectively fair rather than the sham show trial that it actually was. Not too far from some of the “trials” in the former Soviet Union or (at possible risk of invoking Godwin’s Law) Nazi Germany. An objectively fair trial would have left those who still support Saddam and his cohort with no reason to be able to claim him as a martyr.
The execution of Saddam on the Sunni Eid-ul-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice which commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac to God was a deliberate insult to Sunni Muslims around the world and specifically those Sunnis in Iraq. I really don’t think that anything other than evil can come from such a provocative and unneccesary act.
I’m personally opposed to the death penalty and consider it barbaric. After all Jesus said:
John 8
3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Note that the woman had violated Mosaic Law and putting her to death was the official Mosaic penalty for that crime.
I will shed no tears for Saddam, he was a man who let his evil side posess him and he committed many horrendous crimes. But by allowing Saddam to be put to death I feel that we have become, in some small manner, like him. The crime for which Saddam was convicted was that of taking bloody vengeance for an act committed against him. To likewise take bloody vengeance against Saddam does not speak well of us I think.
Romans 12:
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
I realize that I’m in the minority in the USA in opposing capital punishment and I can live with that. Obviously there are those who, like Saddam, do not deserve to have a place in society and should be incarcerated in order that they may not commit further crimes. But I feel that taking bloody vengeance, no matter how justified we may feel it is, demeans us as individuals and as a people.
I also feel that torture is evil demeans us and I feel that solitary confinment is a form of psychological torture. I do not wish to see Saddam tortured either physically or psychologically since that only makes us more like him.
Matthew 5
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
For what it’s worth, I’m an agnostic atheist. But I had an excellent religious education as a child (perhaps that’s why I *am* an atheist) and feel that there is much wisdom in the Bible, particularly in the words of Jesus.
Have a happy and safe New Years everyone!
Jonathan
Comment by Jonathan — 12/31/2006 @ 3:11 pm
3000 deaths and counting!!! awesome!!!
Comment by piero — 12/31/2006 @ 6:16 pm
bigcatgirl said:
This hanging will at last bring needed closure to the surviving victims and the families of those who had died under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussien. Rest in peace victims of his horrors. The long nightmare of Iraq is indeed over.
Comment by bigcatgirl — 12/31/2006 @ 6:27 pm
Have a good 2007 everyone!
Comment by bigcatgirl — 12/31/2006 @ 6:29 pm
all this salivating over saddams death
it’s ghoulish and won’t change a single thing
this invasion will go down as the biggest blunder in history
by the way dems took the house and senate
as a reminder that most of the people in the country feel the way i do
Comment by bibbleman — 1/1/2007 @ 12:30 pm
Moran on Saddam’s Death
I just read this post by Rick Moran on the execution of Saddam Hussein. It’s worth your time.No, there is nothing funny about killing this brute, a man who has shown no remorse nor the slightest flicker of regret at…
Trackback by Slublog — 1/1/2007 @ 2:06 pm
they taunted Saddam to the end
Hundreds volunteered to be Saddam’s executioners. There should be little surprise that he was treated in a nasty manner after what he did to countless Iraqis. But they took a departure from what at first appeared dignified as we discover how h…
Trackback by Cao's Blog — 1/2/2007 @ 7:30 am
Keeping It All In Perspective
While everyone either celebrates or condemns the hanging of Saddam Hussein, Rick Moran shares his thoughts and reminds all of us, no matter what we think of the hanging, exactly where our perspective should be. The fact that the world…
Trackback by Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff — 1/2/2007 @ 10:46 am
At least now all of Saddam’s victims can rest in peace that justice has been served to Saddam.
Comment by bigcatgirl — 1/2/2007 @ 4:28 pm
Hey, KB, nice rewrite of history. Little history lesson may do you good. Specifically, the Carter administration that set all of this into motion with the overthrow of the Shah.
Talk about rewriting history. What really “set all of this into motion” was the CIA overthrow of the democratically elected Mossadegh government and the subsequent installation of the US puppet, the Shah, in 1953. Note that Dwight David Eisenhower was president in 1953 and that he was a Republican.
Comment by Jonathan — 1/3/2007 @ 8:35 am