Saddam Hussein

Jan. 5th, 2007

Saddam Hussein, ex-dictator of Iraq, and arguably the greatest mass murderer in recent history, is dead. Deposed by the United States armed forces, Saddam was captured and turned over to the Iraqi civil government for trial. Saddam, who was hanged Saturday at age 69, had ruled Iraq with singular ruthlessness. Brutality kept him in power through war with Iran, defeat in Kuwait, rebellions by Kurds and Shiite Muslims, international sanctions, plots and conspiracies. Trusting few except relatives, Saddam surrounded himself with sycophants, selected for loyalty rather than intelligence or ability.

And when he was forced out of power in 2003, he left a country impoverished despite vast oil wealth, and boiling with suppressed ethnic and sectarian hatred. He ended up dragged from a hole in the ground by American soldiers in December 2003, bearded, dirty, and with his hands in the air.

Image and illusion were important tools for Saddam. He sought to build an image as an all-wise, all-powerful champion of the Arab nation. His model was the great 12th century warrior Saladin. He promoted the illusion of a powerful Iraq — with the world's fourth largest army and weapons of mass destruction. Yet it was all hollow. His army crumbled when confronted by the Americans and their allies in Kuwait in 1991. And in 2003, his capital fell to a single U.S. brigade task force. Saddam's weapons of mass destruction eventually proved a bluff to keep the Iranians, the Syrians, the Israelis… and the Americans, at bay.

In accordance with Iraqi law, Saddam was hung before sunrise Saturday morning, by Iraqi civil authorities “somewhere in Baghdad”, and leaving the Iraqi’s with a somewhat perplexing problem of what to do with the body.

One thought is to hand the body over to his family for burial. His close family however, and for very good reason, all live outside the country, and the chances of their coming to get him are considered rather slim. Another idea is to give him a normal funeral in Iraq. This however leaves the Iraqi rebels (who are already calling Saddam a “Martyr to the Cause”) with a common rallying point, and probably another “holy site” as well. An unmarked grave somewhere in the desert is yet another option, but is apparently considered somewhat vindictive by many. Personally I’d recommend an open air grave in the middle of Tikrit, sewn into a pigskin “casket”, and with the liberal application of lard. I suspect however that this might create a lot of other problems, particularly for the US Army. Oh well, I’m sure something will eventually be done, amid all kinds of protests and objections from the Muslim, and world, community.

Saddam’s execution has also brought on the usual spate of worldwide weeping, wailing, and hand wringing from those opposed to the death penalty, particularly from Europe. In general I’m not opposed to the death penalty, although I do think it’s used far to often. But in this particular case, as in the case of nearly all tyrants, I do think it’s quite fair.

I can just imagine the Devil, Saddam, Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Attila the Hun, and a few hundred other mass murders all sitting around the hot basement furnace, busily plotting revenge. Not a pretty picture, considering the number of people who willingly follow such “leaders”. Hollywierd will probably present us with a colossal “All Star” movie on the subject before long, pointing out to us what a great guy Saddam really was, how everyone misunderstood him, and how cruelly he was treated by the evil Americans. I doubt I’ll attend.

As for Saddam Hussein… Good riddance!

Anticipating New Years Eve in a few hours, I’ll cut this short, and wish a happy and prosperous New Year to all.