Saddam execution - time to move on

Saddam Hussein was executed last Saturday -- now almost a week ago. But it was only yesterday, Thursday, that -- for the first time -- we were not filing around the news cycle on the insidious fallout from ''the cell phone video."

Why? It was the perfect video storm: 2 minutes 36 seconds of grainy, shaky imagery had captivated the world's media organizations and galvanized anyone and everyone who had an opinion on the war. And -- especially -- against the war.

There was Saddam, once America's bulwark against the turbaned theocracy to the East, standing tall, head high, composed, taking verbal salvos from several unseen agents of the Shiite-led government America had supported, indeed -- created. The off-camera chants of "Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada" quickly became a mantra for America's final moral -- if not yet military -- defeat in Iraq.

Wasn't al-Sadr the very man who commanders had claimed was the biggest threat to U.S. interests in Iraq? What was going on here? "If this is a sectarian struggle over there, how did we get to be Shiites?" bellowed MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on the Today Show.

Enough. It's time to step back and digest some of the feedback we've received from viewers and bloggers who -- in sum -- complained about our voyeuristic obsession with the death of a tyrant at the hands of his victims.

What about Ceausescu, Mussolini?
If we were stunned by the ugliness of Saddam's final moments, some suggested, we should recall other executions of earlier dictators.

Nikolai Ceausescu's trial lasted minutes, the time it took for Romania's wretched strongman - and his defiant wife, Elena -- to drown out the litany of charges against them (which did NOT include mass murder by nerve gas). They wouldn't send their own dog to such a rogue court.

Nor would they have the chance: the Ceausescus were lined up next to a wall nearby --hands tied -- and shot. The images broadcast around the world weren't grainy or shaky or filmed under-cover. The gory close-ups of the Fallen Couple were as vivid as the blood on the fresh December snow.

Benito Mussolini also comes to mind. Il Duce and his mistress, Clara, were not only shot -- without a trial -- by an angry mob of partisans on the last days of World War II, but were hung -- upside down -- from lampposts for all in the streets near Lake Como to see.

It's true that Saddam's execution looked pretty tame, next to these. Still, by enlightened, Western standards, it was shocking.

Enemy of our enemy - not our friend
But why are we even applying such a gauge in a land where bloodshed, hatred and revenge have conspired to a degree we can barely comprehend? How many times, in America's own death chambers, have the victims of some horrific crime wanted -- even tried -- to murder the condemned BEFORE the executioners did?

Look at the ugly emotion that often sullies our own courtrooms. There is certainly nothing nice about cursing a man -- with a noose around his neck -- about to die. It wasn't the right thing to do. But this was the man who spread fear so pervasively that many Iraqis believed he could NOT die, that Saddam Hussein was in fact a kind of mythic vampire who would come back in the dead of night to suck their blood, as he did in real life.

How did we all become Shiites? We didn't. The enemy of our enemy is NOT REALLY our friend.

Al-Sadr still remains -- for some -- the biggest threat to U.S. interests in Iraq. But Al-Sadr's political wing controls 30 seats in Iraq's divided parliament, and five cabinet posts. And it's Sadr's Mahdi Army that protects millions of Iraqi Shiites -- from Baghdad to Najaf -- from marauding gangs of Sunni vigilantes even as it resists U.S. military presence.

And true, its death squads also kill dozens of Sunni civilians, every day, and are driving a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Baghdad and other "mixed" cities and towns on a level unseen since the wars in the former Yugoslavia. And no doubt all of this was playing out at Saddam's gallows.

But, basta. Rather than harping on the shock value of 156 seconds of tape, we may have -- finally -- turned the corner. And that may, in the end, be the easy part. For, without some kind of time-out from the brutality and a hint of dialogue between Iraq's disparate and hateful people, what lies ahead could get even uglier.

Jim Maceda is an NBC News Correspondent based in London and on assignment in Iraq.

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57 COMMENTS

Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 Timmy my boy. Bush cut and ran from Afghanistan before he could get BinLaden...you remember him, right?

Iraq was meaningless to national security in 2002/2003.

Stay scared, that's how your masters control you!

Tim, I'm sorry your son fell for the lies. I hope he makes it home. Nobody deserves to die to majke Bush's pals richer.

Sean, Torrington CT (Sent Jan 13, 2007 4:39:36 PM)

On NBC Martin Indyx a former US ambassador commented a failure to encounter Iran would mean Iran would become dominant in the region. Didn’t bush grasp this disaster coming when Iran kept funding the Islamic radicals? Mr. Council on foreign relations Richard Haass I don’t know where you been but your comment about using diplomatic means with the Iranians its irritating and imperceptive, can you understand these Islamic fundamentalist hate Americans to death and their only negotiation is for us to let them kill us.

Eric Oregon (Sent Jan 13, 2007 9:31:39 PM)

Paul Bremer one of the worst diplomats Bush has ever appointed to the reconstruction effort in Iraq and his ideology can now be seeing in the disorder and segregation of regular Iraqi citizens. Chaos in the worst manner, confusion, violence, instability, is what Mr. Bremer failed to see with his narrow-minded strategy of de-Baathification. When he eliminated the elite from the structure of the country it was only a matter a time before the criminals and the militias run around creating a country of lawlessness. Yes we can blame Paul Bremer for much of the American lives lost to the cause as a result to one man’s stupidity under a president that didn’t know from his right or left.

Eric Oregon (Sent Jan 14, 2007 2:16:42 PM)

I would like to say this: I am so proud of every American in Iraq that is making a difference to support this country and guard that gate at night that I may sleep in peace. I do have mixed feelings as to the violence there in Iraq. I more than any would love to have each and every American home. Let us not forget 9/11. Let us not forget what it is that our goal was in the first place to be there. I do not like the constant fighting but never was war Nice. I pray each night for each and every soul there - American and other. I also agree with Tim, Dayton , Ohio. But I also agree with each and every one of you who has submitted something here. Just as you had a CHOICE to voice your opinion our military men and women had a choice to be in our armed services. They are doing a job and the lack of support is a replay of NAM! Not only do our service men and women have a choice so do the ones we are to protect and fight against. As a parent I teach my children to stand up for what you believe in. I also teach them to help when they can. I only hope that everyone taught and thought this same belief. I remember a country undivided on 9/11. We still need to be that country. Wars are never fought in days weeks or months. We must help those who need our help against all unjust. That also begins here at home. Though I do not want more service men or women to be sent but "IF" there is a nation that wants democracy and an end to human cruelty, why not help. So to the men and women of our nation that serve this great nation to protect us from all unjust ---THANK YOU AND JOB WELL DONE.

DONNA, AUBURN, AL (Sent Jan 14, 2007 7:18:02 PM)

Lets give a hand to President Bush for the continuous beheadings and the untamed strife in Iraq. It looks like the Shiites are crying over 148 Shiites Islamic extremists that died in the 80’s these insane dead radicals are still far less than the American soldiers they’ve killed in the past year. Mr. Bush you’ve chosen sides and you should be chanting and celebrating with your friends the Mullahs.

Eric Oregon (Sent Jan 15, 2007 6:44:37 AM)

The original plan of attempting to install a democracy in this godforsaken part of the world in order to change their economy and govt away from one that fuels the kind of terrorism that we saw on 9-11 toward something more moderate is a long-term strategy. Iraq was never accused of being involved in 9-11 but rather that they could be culpable in enabling another one based on Saddam's refusal of the UN inspectors.

Take the gloves off the military and watch how quickly this thing turns.

Great post Tim - praying that you son comes home safe.

Don - Ohio

Don Cleveland, OH (Sent Jan 15, 2007 7:56:15 AM)

I believe..sending more troops to Iraq is a great mistake. Does Mr. Bush have these youth to be killed there ? Why murdering wonderful American young men ? Instead of teaching them high education and preparing them for better positions in American society, they are sent to their dooms ? Hell with that oil that I sacrifice my son for it.

Fatima, Cairo, Egypt (Sent Jan 15, 2007 8:45:07 AM)

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Life beyond the violence
Suicide attacks and murders due to sectarian conflict continue around Iraq. See how residents live their lives amid the attacks.