Saddam Hussein Hanging LIVE Thread

[AVNevis]

Since it now seems very imminent, I decided that it was an appropriate time to start this up. Links to information and pictures (if we get them) can be posted here.

[MamaB]

Why would any country want him in their country?

[TexKat]

MALVEAUX: It is almost 2:00 in the morning Baghdad time. And, of course, there are reports, one from The Associated Press, saying that Saddam Hussein's execution could happen as early as before 6:00 a.m. Saturday. We are just hours away from that execution, if, in fact, that is true.

Now, joining us, of course, in Atlanta, senior editor of Arab Affairs, Octavia Nasr.

Explain to us the timing of this. Does this make any sense at all? Why would there be this window?

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SR. EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Very -- actually, it makes a lot of sense for people who are involved. Saturday morning marks the beginning of a very important holiday in the Muslim calendar, Eid, the Feast of Sacrifice. As a matter of fact, at daybreak, at sunrise, is when Muslims around the world will celebrate that very important feast.

There were very harsh criticisms of this decision to execute Saddam Hussein on such an important holiday. So it seems that after consultations, the Iraqi government decided to -- if, indeed, it is going to carry out this execution, it will carry it out before 6:00 a.m. That means before daybreak, before the actual celebration of Eid begins.

MALVEAUX: So if it doesn't happen before 6:00 a.m., then what is the next logical window where they would decide to execute Saddam Hussein?

NASR: You know, Eid in the Middle East lasts four days. So if it begins tomorrow, you have to count four days after Saturday.

Also, you add one more day, because there's a discrepancy between the Shiites and Sunni celebration of Eid. Shiites will commence the celebration on Sunday, instead of Saturday.

So it will take a few days, if, indeed, they want to wait until after the holiday. In the beginning, it sounded like that was not an issue for the Iraqi government. But at this point, if indeed, they're thinking about, you know, the execution taking place before 6:00 a.m., that means they're taking that into in effect. That means the next logical date would be around the 5th or 6th of January.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/29/sitroom.02.html

[appalachian_dweller]

>> Yep, and Shep on FOX just reported that witnesses (viewers, invited guests) were being allowed into the place of execution.

Looks a bit saddened to me. <<


I wonder how perky katie kouric is holding up. Probably blubbering and foaming all over herself.

[Steve_Seattle]

"fears of an insurgent backlash"

The insurgents are ALREADY committing acts of violence on a daily basis, so any "backlash" would just be more of the same. Let the execution begin.

[joebuck]

Wow, the deathwatch thread is still going? I was on here a few hours this afternoon while I pretended to be working on the Friday before a three day weekend. I was kinda hoping when I just checked FR the headline would be that the chicken had been choked.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Well, we're neighbors of a sort then... I like most Texans, but don't tell Eaker or Humblegunner that. :)

[Silly]

[cmsgop]

Just updated my iPod and made myself a Bloody Mary, I'm all ready to go

[CougarGA7]

You should have a bonny good night then.

[Tatze]

[oceanview]

not a bad overall lineup.

If only we could have gotten that SOB Al Douri.

[RonDog]

I believe a half-brother and the intelligence chief are on the undercard.

So it would seem.

From www.11alive.com:

...Also to be hanged at that time were Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, the adviser said...

[Loyalist]

CNN is interviewing one of Hussein's lawyers: he's saying that if Hussein gets executed despite a restraining order by a U.S. federal judge, Bush could go to jail for contempt of court and/or be impeached.

He wishes.

[RightWhale]

They won't be wasting any time.

[sissyjane]

...but there isn't a restraining order is there???

[SE Mom]

BAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAA! You are MAKING that UP! ;)

[CougarGA7]

Ive got to ask, did you turn around 3 times before you laid down? :)

[Chuck54]

No time frame mentioned.
I think I'll just keep a close on Shep and when his makeup starts to run I'll know it's over for old Sadaam.

[Miss Marple]

I just now caught up! We were gone all afternoon and just got home about 45 minutes ago.

I would like to say that all of this mourning by liberal sites like DU and many reporters wouldn't be happening if we had been able to watch the trial and the testimony of the witnesses. It is just another example of the terrible coverage by the American press.

For the next war, we need to have a law DRAFTING members of the press.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm about to fire up the BBQ. Saturday is normally BBQ night, but couldn't get out to get the pizza today.