U.S. official in Baghdad says Saddam in U.S. custody
18 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein was still in U.S. custody on Friday evening, a U.S. official in Baghdad said, denying reports that the U.S. military had handed the former president over to Iraqi authorities to be hanged.
"He is still in U.S. custody," a U.S. official in Baghdad told Reuters.
An appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam's November 5 death sentence for crimes against humanity for the killings, torture and other crimes against the Shi'ite population of the town of Dujail. U.S. and Iraqi officials have given conflicting reports of when he will be hanged.
Although legally in Iraqi custody, U.S. troops have hitherto physically kept guard over Saddam and are expected to hold on to him until the last minute to avoid security breaches.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061229/ts_nm/iraq_saddam_handover_denial_dc_1
Aye, there's the concern. Will there be a desperate rescue attempt or will Saddam's supporters see more value in him as a martyr than a living symbol? Prayers for our military.
Baghdad Bob? (see above)
The Maliki government would just be chickensh!t enough to keep Hussein alive. Distracting the Iraqi people away from the corruption and incompetence of the Maliki government, and blaming the US for Hussein not being executed.
Although legally in Iraqi custody, U.S. troops have hitherto physically kept guard over Saddam and are expected to hold on to him until the last minute to avoid security breaches.
Pretty much explains the confusion.
AP already has an honorarium:
Events in the life of Saddam Hussein By The Associated Press
2 minutes ago
A glance at the life of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein:
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April 28, 1937 — Born in village near Tikrit, north of Baghdad.
1957 — Joins underground Baath Socialist Party.
1958 — Arrested for killing his brother-in-law, a Communist. Spends six months in prison.
Oct. 7, 1959 — On Baath assassination team that ambushes Iraqi strongman Gen. Abdel-Karim Kassem in Baghdad, wounding him. Saddam, wounded in leg, flees to Syria then Egypt.
Feb. 8, 1963 — Returns after Baath takes part in coup that overthrows and kills Kassem.
July 30, 1968 — Becomes chief of internal security under President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, his cousin.
July 16, 1979 — Takes over as president from al-Bakr, launches major purge of Baath members.
Sept. 22, 1980 — Sends troops into Iran; war lasts eight years.
March 28, 1988 — Uses chemical weapons against Kurdish town of Halabja, killing estimated 5,000 civilians.
Aug. 2, 1990 — Invades Kuwait, but sees his army driven out by U.S.-led coalition five months later.
Feb. 20, 1996 — Orders killing of two sons-in-law who had defected to Jordan but returned to Baghdad after receiving guarantees of safety.
Nov. 27, 2002 — Under U.N. threat of "serious consequences," allows U.N. weapons experts back into Iraq.
March 17, 2003 — Gets 48-hour deadline from President Bush to give up power and leave Iraq. War begins three days later, chasing him from Baghdad on April 9.
July 22, 2003 — His sons, Qusai and Odai, killed in gunbattle with American soldiers.
Dec. 13, 2003 — Captured while hiding in hole in ground near Tikrit.
July 1, 2004 — Arraigned before judge, rejects charges of war crimes and genocide.
Oct. 19, 2005 — Goes on trial with seven co-defendants charged in 1982 killings of 148 Shiite Muslims, stemming from attempt to assassinate him in Dujail.
March 1, 2006 — Admits ordering trial of 148 Shiites eventually executed, but insists doing so was legal.
April 4, 2006 — Faces new criminal charges, for second trial with six others, in connection with brutal 1987-88 crackdown on Kurds in northern Iraq.
June 19, 2006 — Hears prosecution demand death penalty in closing arguments at Dujail trial, saying he showed "no mercy" in the killings of women and children.
Aug. 21, 2006 — At opening of second trial, shouts at prosecutors and refuses to enter plea to charges of genocide and war crimes.
Nov. 5, 2006 — Trembles but remains defiant as tribunal in first trial announces guilty verdict and sentences him to hang.
Dec. 26, 2006 — Iraq's highest court rejects appeal of conviction, saying Saddam must be hanged within 30 days.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saddam_chronology_1
There are one or two dates missing from the end, but you can bet it is "in the can"