It seems to me that Saddam Hussein's execution, while deserved, is a gift by The Bush administration to the Iranian's. Those in the whole Middle East should think...is it possible that it was designed to be Sunni against Shia? And who are those behind scheme? I wanted justice to be served for the Iraqi people, but it should have been a little more serious and a whole lot less celebratory. Shame on anyone who is happy tht any man is now dead...civilization is in serious decline.

Saddam has committed many crimes and should be punished for that. And Americans do believe they are a role model for everyone but it doesn’t give anyone the right to insult everyone else for their religion. We waited this long so what is another couple of days? If he is killed during Eid it will start a riot and jeopardize the lives of our troops there. They will retaliate, not because they are upset to have him hanged but for doing it on an auspicious day. Respect everyone else and the Americans will have a good reputation and continue to be a role model instead of being suspected of discriminating against religion.

We are dealing with cultural/ theological logic here. The insensitivity shown towards the Sunni Holiday, by a Shiite majority government does seem a slap in the face to all Sunni. Does it matter, we will see. It is an Iraqi problem, not ours.

Our problem is understanding how to deal with the Moslem world. Reyes is a typical example of absolute ignorance of the people in power (in all countries). My friends, YOU need to READ some books about what is tearing Islam apart, what the true threat to the Infidel is and what the true goals of Islamist Infidel haters (as differentiated from any other definition of Islamists).

What if the "War" in Iraq turns out to be the "Battle" in Iraq? You never heard of the "War" of the Bulge, but the Battle of the Bulge. A Battle in a war. It would be truly sad if moderat Islam doesn't get control over their own destiny.

In life Sadam Hussein demonstrated his inhumanity to his fellow man. In his trial and death the 'powers that be' have revealed their own inhumanity to man. So, what have we as a western 'civilized democracy' modeled for Iraq's 'dying for democracy'? What do we see in the mirror for our part in this? What has the manner and celebration of Hussein's death reveal about the participants? How has this display including the in- your- face graphics in the media improve the quality of thinking, and life for Iraqis, Americans, Britons and our fellow human beings around the world?

Thank you Mr President and our Brave Soldiers
In the years since terrorists attacked us , President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and, North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. Thankfully after 9/11 President Bush and our Great Soldiers have prevented another attack on American soil by taking the war back to SADDAM,THE GODFATHER OF ISLAMIC STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM.Those of us that love American and the freedom that we have can never thank you enough!!!!! No matter how many peaceful Muslims there may be, they are no protection from the Terrorist Muslim leaders and what they are fanatically bent on doing -- by their own pronouncements -- killing all of us "infidels." I don't blame the peaceful Muslims. What would you do if the choice was shut up or die? So who are we at war with? There is no way we can honestly respond that it is anyone other than the Muslim terrorists. Trying to be politically correct and avoid verbalizing this conclusion can well be fatal. There is no way to win if you don't clearly recognize and articulate who you are fighting. We can definitely lose this war, and as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question: What does losing mean? It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home and going on about our business, like post Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get. What losing really means is: We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but rather will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wanted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us over the past 18 years. The plan is clearly for terrorists to attack us, until we are neutered and submissive to them, If we lose the war, our production, income, exports and way of life will all vanish as we know it. The Muslims fully know what is riding on this war, and therefore are completely committed to winning, at any cost. We'd better know it too!! Mahmoud AhMADinejad, President of IRAN stated that the the "Muslims must prepare to rule the world."

In my opionion this war was purely started over oil and the fact that Sadaam almost killed Bush sr. The Iraqi people asked for americans help back in the 90s,and what did they get for that NOTHING!! But now that Goerge W is in office he has the power to get revenge for the attack on his fathers life. So answer me this, Why did we wait 10 some years to help the people of Iraq? I smell something not right and I will tell you what it is pure profit OIL. How long will Bush keep the american soliders there doing as he says it GOOD?? How long untill he gives the country back to its people, how long do the inocent Iraqi people ( women,children and men) have to suffer for what Sadaam did? He is dead and may he burn in hell for the crimes he did to his people, Now is the time to let these good people live. I say get our soliders out and pray for them and guide them only when they ask for it. Time to take care of our country and let others be.

Richard take care of yourself in Iraq because it's going to get much worse. Saddam's death was the Bush/Cheney plan. Yes they put their puppet government up front but they pulled the strings. If Bush sends more troops Americans will see thousands more dead because we're in the middle of Iraq's civil war. Saddam as a leader of Iraq did shocking things but Americans excuse the shocking actions of our President. Thousands of innocent Iraq people were killed, tortured, had to flee their homes and some are now living in fear. Millions of left to other countries such as Iran/Syria for safety. While the Bush Administration is still sucking up the oil and stealing. The Middle East leaders know what Bush was planning all along. That is to control the Middle East oil or Iraq, Afghan, Iran and Syria. Now Richard you will see how the Middle East turns on the Bush Administration as Bush becomes a lame duck President and Cheney get indicted. Just watch your back and trust no one least of all the American government.

Saddam will be a martyr and remembered by his people. As we saw the way he was killed with the direction of the US the world knows Bush had the Iraq appointed government do as they were told. 2007 will be a surprise for Bush/Cheney and the world. Don't forget Saddam had men who were made to look just like him for years as no DNA was possible you never know was he the real or the copy that died.

Engel,
With you propagandizing this non-issue and trying to pass it off as some debate makes you no better than the terrorist themselves who would use anything as an excuse to spread hatred.

Richard's story on how the execution of Saddam has gotten out over phones and the internet is another sad reminder that it is blood that people are after. We are no safer at home today and are troops are probably going to be even more in harms way now. I hope Richard and the other reporters take special care in their reporting as the American presence is what will unite the Iraqis in spite of their differences and they may be easy targets.

Saddam's death while viewed by many as a symbolic victory will actually be a mere footnote in history testifying to the barbaric nature of America's policies. I cannot believe, as Mea, that "We (America) will reap what we have sown," because there is no indication of reaping for the injustices heap on the Black, Yellow, Red and Brown people throughout history. America's legacy is one of destruction and hatred...

Thanks, Richard!

Thank you for all you do in reporting from Iraq. You are our eyes and ears over there. Keep up the great work. Also, watch your back over there.

I'm typing this two days after Saddam's death. True, he didn't have anything to do with 9-11. True he hated al qaeda as much as we did possibly. So what? He did torture and kill thousands of his own people and people in Kuwait. His death is not a great victory for the U.S., but I do believe it is a great victory for the Shia and Kurds of Iraq. That in itself says a lot. Hopefully the whole country won't go insane now. So far it hasn't, from what the news reports have said, so keep your fingers crossed.

Richard I noticed that the men who hung Saddam were not yelling support of the Bush appointed President. Now the White House is trying to spin their way out of the fact that they were behind everything that takes place in Iraq. The government is not in charge the US is controlling Iraq. I heard your report about your film being taken. I hope the Dems can stop the madness of Bush as we don't need more troops to die for greed and oil.

It is true that Saddam was a dictator of Iraq but as a leader he did not deserve to be killed especially now when his contribution to curb the Iraq escalating conflicts needs powerful people like Saddam.

This is very unfortunate. The Sunnis already believed this was a "Shiite" government. Executing Saddam this way, at the time they did is a very tangible way for the current government in Iraq to display its "Shiiteness." We may be in Iraq for a very long time....

I don't really understand WHY they killed Saddam so
soon. He WAS the one who knew many things(maybe
real things).
In my country, they say that "dead man has no mouth". You know that meaning.
He shoud live to tell the truth.

I'm amazed at the "I don't care" attitudes that many of us Americans have developed regarding the sensitivity and respect towards other cultures and religions. As evil as the act that Timothy McVeigh committed, I doubt that I would have wanted him put to death on Christmas Day, nor any other evil doer on their Holy days.

Justice has been done despite what the news media and the liberal polictian believe. I'm sorry that Sadaam didn't take responsibility for the crimes he committed. There was no remorse, no apologies that any world leader should display for the atrocities committed. I pray that the people of Iraq will unite as one people and one country moving forward in a new year and a new century. May they rise above the darkness and become a light to the Middle East and to the world. God bless the people of Iraq.

I am at odds to even understand why the American people voted G. W. Bush into power in the first place. And, just hope that they are mindful in their next election. Reap what you sow as the saying goes.

I'm going to have to agree with Muffin Man. It was in poor taste to murder him on the beginning of Eid. Not only did it show how childlike and petty the Iraqi government is, and how little influence the American government has over them, but it outraged Sunna Muslims from Saudi Arabia to Florida, not to mention Iraq.

There was no other reason for it than to insult Sunna's in the country and show them that the Shi'a led government in Iraq doesn't give a damn about them. Delaying his execution wouldn't have caused any problems, and having it on Eid brought many. They had thirty days to do it, there was only one reason to do it then.

It is sad, but the Iraqi government of Maliki and Muqtada are doing nothing to bring their country together.

http://tlocfym.blogspot.com

My response is that no one in the history of the US States of America has paid for or been held accountable for the many years of massive hangings, muders, tortering, and maiming of Blacks throughout the over 400 years. So how does America justify their enjoyment of seeing Saddam Hussien hanged to death.

What a glorious screw-up the Iraq Occupation has been.

Yes, Saddam was bad. There were worse men in Africa. But after the WMDs weren't found, after the known un-reliable informant who cried 'Yellow Cake' was debunked, after no links to Al-Quieda were found, Bush and Company found a fourth excuse for invasion which stuck.

If only this money and effort and death and mutilation had been put to better use in Africa.

Although I would like to enter more comments, I do not feel secure in doing so. But, I will state that I believe that the Iraqi government is totally controlled by the U.S and that everything it may do or not do, is either initiated or approved by the U.S. and anything the U.S. does not want to happen, does not happen.

There is no victory with Suddam's death. The American Goverment just gived more reasons for people in the Middle East to shoot and kill any American anywhere any time. Thanks to Bush Americans are hated around the world. The American Goverment is seen as an imperial Goverment. It's easy, if our goverment does not like how a foreign goverment do business with its people we get everyone together to sunction them make them poor as much as possible then we make some false notions to eliminate and kill their officials.

Now ossam Binn Laden has power behind him. The US goverment allowing to kill Saddam has justified the twin towers destruction. Now other Muslim goverments are going to fortify the cause of Alqida. Thanks to Bush now we Americans have to worried about our lives when traveling abroad.