All you have to do is look, listen and perceive.
The trio of Cheney, Bush and Rumsfield were all buddies w/Saddam when he could line their pockets. Then Saddam makes the mistake of offending daddy Bush and they will stop at nothing, I REPEAT STOP AT NOTHING to serve up their vengences, and of course attempt to get the oil; but I guess that didn't work so we had to pay tens of billions of dollars in extra gas money to make up for it - ITS THE OIL. OR at least it started out that way; but this bunch screwed it up, just like they have everything they've touched.

Why is it that nobody is getting the main point: Sure Saddam Hussein was a bad, maybe even evil guy. But the world (and especially the Middle East) is filled with bad guys. The biger threats to the U.S. were Osama Bin Laden and, even worse, the head of Iran.
Saddam was a mortal enemy of Iran. He even tried to gas them out of existence. He was a true buffer that we could have used to our own advantage. Now he is out of power and the Iranian Shiites can get together with the ruling Iraqi Shiites to pose even a bigger (nuclear) threat to us and to Israel.

Similarly, Saddam perceived Osama Bin Laden as a threat to his own power. He would have kept Al Quaida under control. Now they have established a foothold in Iraq where they are manufacturing IED's which are killing and maiming our soldiers.

Why doesn't anyone get this? We fought an unnecessary, costly war and got rid of the wrong enemy. Now we are worse off than before.

I think that it would be a tragic mistake to execute Saddam. His execution could possibly close all doors of communication with the majority of Moslems. Does he deserve to die? Yes according to the witnesses in the trial and according to the evidence presented. How many people died in Desert Storm? How does one evil balance out another? How many people died on the Gaza? How many people died in Jerusalem? How many Irish victims, English victims? Moses killed an Egyptian according to the Bible. He was a co-ruler there were other options. Jehovah God taught him law for about forty years. The Gentile was to be treated equally under law. A Christian country has always maintained the thought of mercy...and... rehabilitation. There was a woman so-called rapevictim fornicator that received 400 strokes as a punishment. How does one teach those that seem unteachable? How does one lead when the leaders seem to be less than Christians, less than God-like?? Why are we executing him? For vengenance? For justice? To ignite an explosive situation or to bring it under control? The point should be "did Saddam really understand what he was doing was wrong in the eyes of his God or the Creator?"

Does anyone else feel that something is wrong with this case. I mean really, Saddams lawyers were murdered several times earlier back in the midsts of his court case, apperent tampering with court information was announced but never followed up (gotta love the media). All this plus the conclusion of the courts findings explained to the defendent in 40 minutes of basically hey your gonna die and i'll tell you later why. By the way the way the actions the court took agianst Saddam to find him guilty without reason, and to sentence him, are illegal, if it were held in the U.S.

Wow. "W" is guilty of everything that has happened over the last few years. I am going to vote tomorrow and I will vote for the party that looks out for our safety, lower taxes, and less government. It certainly is not the Democrats. I can't say everything I want to, because they (the Democrat that posted this site) won't post my response, but as a vet, and a Dad whose son turns 18 in August, and is condsidering joing (which I hope he does), we need to fight them there and not here. I'll pull the trigger on Saddum.

Who is more of a patriot, an official who got deferrments from serving during a war and then sent thousands of troops into battle with no clear plans in case something goes wrong and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of american troops? Or someone who questions the current tactics, plans, and reasons for going to war and wants to enact a plan to get our troops back home to secure our own country? Questioning administration policies and demanding answers does not equate to troop bashing. Otherwise if you think we should "stay the course" well then I'll use your own logic and say you are against the safety of American troop and wish to see harm caused to them because that is what "stay the course" is doing. I feel safer if the troops were home defending our borders and the money spent to strengthen our first responders than watching them die overseas due to an administration still waiting for the greeters with flowers so they can take the "Mission Accomplished" banner back out. Our troops deserve better. They deserve officials who have a plan to get them back home safely and not a Sisyphean "stay the course" broken strategy.

Has anyone ever hear of statues of limitations. Sadam is being punished for 9/11. If Sadam is ultimately responsible for of those deaths, then Bush is ultimately responsible for the invasion of Iraq.

Sadam should be in his palace smoking a Cuban cigar having a Scotch!

Does a country have to be a willful particapate of international treaties like the geneva convention, crimes agianst humanity, international law, etc etc - all covered and enforced by the U.N, to be able to be held accountable for breaking any of those listed? And if so was iraq part of the "international government" or were they not?

POLITICS>POLITICS

This is what I posted on my site. jar2.com, before the Saddam verdict was announced. Below is my prediction for the elections. I hope I am wrong but I doubt it. Just like we were hopeful with Gore and Kerry we will be proven wrong. The criminals in power will rule us even if it takes putting a gun to our collective heads.

11-05-2006 Saddam Hussein verdict expected today. Surprise, surprise. Republicans to maintain control of the Senate and Congress.

As the already sickened world, numbed and cowed into accepting anything from the architects of the unbelievable fiasco that is the pogrom in Iraq, sits and watches as George Bush's arch enemy whose country has been completely destroyed and 50,000 of his countrymen along with his sons have been killed, is paraded out by his American occupation handlers two days before US elections, which are guaranteed to be rigged to keep his rich white war party in power, one must pause for a minute and seriously contemplate who the true barbarians and monsters are in this painfully drawn out farce that is the Bush dynasty's personal vendetta.

The outcomes of both events are predictable. Saddam will be senetenced to die and the rubber stamp republican yes men will be kept in power helped by electronic voting machines and the propaganda machines of the mass media. If there are any who voice dissent they will be dealt with and if protests grow too boisterous Bush now has the power to call in the National Guard to stifle dissent in order to maintain his control.

Any other outcomes can not be expected for we no longer live in the real world and have not since the 2000 elections. We are trapped in some strange and sick remorseless parrallel universe called Bush world, where the outcomes of all major events can be predicted in that they will always favour maintaining the power of our despotic big-brother-like war "president".

As JustsomeGuy said anything that can ever be called bad that was done by Saddam was done while he was our Buddy. When? when he was fighting Iran. All those deaths were caused by out war supplies. But then again people want to blame the republicans or the lies told by them. No this war and these deaths are because of you and only you. However Iraq was before it stands a million (and counting) times worse today and you should have known it from day one. Even if you had the IQ of a flea you could have seen it from day one. But you didn't. Meaning what?
It is logically impossible to support the troops but not support the war. And if you think that it's not you are playing a sick game with your fellow man.

Another political move unmasked! Come on, people, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to figure this one out! Another straw breaking America's collective back.

Another Chris Mathew's "Mouth Alike", Talks alot, says very very little. Can any of you recall what the sight of the WTC collasping around 3,000 people who's only sin was that they went to work that day? But then again they're no different from the 1,000's Saddam gassed .... a but then again we saw the bodies, just didn't find the WMD.

If the War in Iraq is so horrible, why do our own troops fighting this war say pulling out is a mistake? Why is that so many soldiers come home and then sign back up for another tour? Should we allow politicians to poison our mind into thinking that the War in Iraq is immoral? Or should we believe the actual men and women serving on the ground that the War in Iraq serves a good purpose and that they (the actual people fighting this war out) do NOT want to leave until the job is done? You decide who is more credible.

Whether or not Saddam is gone doesn't mean the murders have stopped. Every day more people are dying and it doesn't matter quite frankly how long we stay the people over there, (Sunnis and Shites) are just going to continue killing one another. Thus what have we accomplished? We have traded one killer, for a whole bunch of new ones. Our time, money, and men have been wasted. Whatever happened to Osama? The true goal when we started? Still free, and planning his next big attack on our great nation. Also lets not forget, Afghanistan is falling into ruin and war again as well. It doesn't matter what we do, the military has been over run by politicians that think they know the best way to guide these wars. We have lost the TOTAL WAR mentality. To concerned with civilian casuallties, (which WILL happen), to get any hard line objective completed.

I think it is funny how Bush and Blair both act as if they really didn't know how the verdict would turn out. He was found guilty the day he was arrested. Anyone could see how this one was going to turn out.

Every day I hear politician trying to divide this country with their liberal and conservative mess and the people buy into It. I believe a man should be judged on what he does instead of what party he or she belong to. I hope Americans don't forget the real issues and be brainwashed by Saddam being found
guity of a crime and getting the punishment he deserves.A remember it's Soldiers fighting and being killed belonging to both parties.This should in no way change the way the people feel about who they should vote for.Vote for the person and not a party.

Love the "ashamed to be an American" line. That's a great way to approach a complex issue. Deep thinker, you are. Got anything substantive to offer? Hey, I was against the war too but remember; you're no more ashamed than Americans are of you (for saying that). Your family must be proud.

The paranoia is unbelievable! I'm amazed to know there are actually people who think saddam might not be deserving of a death sentence. why is it that you can give him the benefit of the doubt (mass graves and all) yet, every action by Bush, Cheney and Rove is considered evil and greedy with a malicious intent to grab more power?

To call Engel a sycophant is just ignorant! He's a top notch reporter who'se very article suggests the timing of the verdict is questionable - yet you call him a sycophant?. Is it really questionable that most Iraqis (Kurds and Shiites) hate Saddam? Is it really questionable that they would find him guilty??

"The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on...and not a tear shall wash out a word of it"Tagore--the consequences of the decisions of Bush and his boy scouts worldwide will take many years to un-do or heal-we cannot go backward, only to the polls tomorrow-history has changed for-ever, and it remains to be seen what the vacuum created will bring forth in the future. I cry every day for innocent Iraqis who need another life to "live" anything. My thoughts and life are changed for-ever as well. To vote is the least I can do.

I love how this reporter thinks there isn't any timing issues related to this verdict. That's so naive to think - I wonder if he thinks that the recently "summer demand" gas price tumble was not politically inspired either - I bet the Republican campaign ads are not polically driven either, right?? Ah, the trust of the system.

SADDAM TOOK MANY LIVES AND NOW HE WILL LOSE HIS.THE MEDIA WILL POUND THE DETAILS OF THE VERDICT AND EXECUTION INTO OUR DAILY LIVES REPEATEDLY. IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE. STOP THE CRITICIZING AND BASHING. GET OUT THERE AND VOTE AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

How great a day is it to see a democracy at work in Iraq? They went throught the court process where Saddam was accused of his crime, heard and argued the charges being argued against him, faced the witnesses against him, and went through an entire democratic trial by jury IN IRAQ!!!
It's a shame that Saddam, nor any other citizen here in fact, could expect the same here in the good old USA.
With President "Hail Eulogia" Bush recently removing the right to Habeas Corpus [at his discretion], Saddam has more rights and a better chance with an Iraqi trial and the due process afforded him by the Iraqi constitution.
Hey, when can we invade ourseleves to get back the kind of fair trial by jury like those in Iraq?

SHOULD WE REJOICE BECAUSE SADAM WILL BE HANGED ? WHAT ABOUT THE 3000 US SOLDIERS KILLED, 300,000 IRAQS
CIVILIANS FEARED DEAD. 9/11 3000.LIVES DEAD...IS THIS DEMOCRACY ?....FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE, YOU ARE THE BETTER JUDGEMENT OF YOURSELF...FOR YOU ALL KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT FROM WRONG.

all this complaining about how the country is being run...do you REALLY think you could do better? i don't think so! our dear President may not be perfect, our system is not perfect but it is OURS and we should be PROUD of what we have! don't bash the Presidency or our system, people!