Ruthless Saddam Hussein hanged at age 69

AP ^ | 12/29/2006 | By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

[Prost1]

Within days of taking power, Saddam Hussein summoned about 400 top officials and announced he had uncovered a plot against the ruling party. The conspirators, he said, were in that very room. As the 42-year-old Saddam coolly puffed on a cigar, names of the supposed plotters were read out. As each name was called, secret police led them away. Twenty-two people were executed. To make sure Iraqis got the word, Saddam videotaped the entire proceeding and distributed copies across the country. The plot claim was a lie. But in a few terrifying minutes on July 22, 1979, Saddam eliminated his potential rivals, consolidating the power he wielded until the Americans and their allies drove him from office a generation later.

Saddam, who was hanged Saturday at age 69, ruled Iraq with singular ruthlessness. No one was safe. His two sons-in-law were killed on Saddam's orders after they defected to Jordan but returned in 1996 after receiving guarantees of safety.

Such brutality kept him in power through war with Iran, defeat in Kuwait, rebellions by northern Kurds and southern Shiite Muslims, international sanctions, plots and conspiracies.

[Jaded]

It's certainly a day for surprises.

At the beginning of this war, I was not sure it was the right thing for the US to do. In true FR spirit, I got two books Saddam: King of Terror by Con Coughlin and Rebuilding Babylon by idontremember. After reading both books, the only questions I had were: why was a single Iraq carved out of Persia instead of three separate countries and more importantly why wasn't he removed from power in 1991. One out of two is better than nothing.

[Mojave Mark]

God bless our troops who handed Saddam over to us. Hoo-ah!

[Jaded]

Yes. May God bless all of them for their sacrifice for others.

[Wraith]

Tom another for the file....

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/452/hangingkitty8qm.gif

[kb2614]

Saddam, who was hanged Saturday....

Alas, Michael Moore dons sackcloth & ashes, then weeps.

[yoe]

This is an excellent article (The Sept. 11 terror attack on the U.S. focused attention on Saddam as a sponsor of terrorism. His refusal to meet U.N. demands for full disclosure of his illegal weapons program provided a justification for war. ) surprisingly, some real journalism here.

[Prost1]

I know the answer to your question, however, it takes many, many pages to respond.

I suggest reading the history of the Sumerians and then proceeding with the history of the middle east from the time of the heretic until present times. Please note: Sumeria was spelled as Schumeria or Schumer, as in Senator Schumer.

I think there is a link.

Regards.

[Lonely Bull]

Alas, Michael Moore dons sackcloth & ashes, then weeps.

No wonder the U.S. is out of sackcloth.

[tgambill]

I had a cat for 15 years...always been partial to cats.

Saddam was a "S#$ hea#@", but, we also have to ask, "Where did he get the biologicals? Chemicals? to massacre his own people and Iranians? Who profited and put the weapons in his hands....they should be next.

Does the name I.G. Farben in early 1900's come to mind....and a little known dictator who got his support.

[maica]

Image and illusion were important tools for Saddam.

When I read Freeper (or CNN) comments that decry his execution, I am reminded of the characters in the HBO show THE WIRE.

The drug bosses look like healthy athletes and prosperous businessmen as they keep their 'employees' in line by regularly killing transgressors or weak links. In the same way, Saddam always presented a business executive and/or military appearance for the cameras.

Very depressing to see that his 'illusions' could even seduce some Freepers.

[SunkenCiv]

A number of those executed were his idiot co-conspirators in various uprising plots and other political "activists" with whom he did time in Iraqi prisons. At least one shouted their condemnations of him as they were being hauled away.

---

Out of the Ashes: The Resurrection of Saddam Hussein by Andrew Cockburn and Patrick Cockburn	The Reckoning: Iraq and the Legacy of Saddam Hussein by Sandra MacKey

---

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the link. Strange, though, that this only appeared after the 2006 election?

---

---

[Rahmulus]

I'm not sure if I agree with this statement:

----After the Iranians counterattacked, Saddam turned to the United States, France and Britain for weapons, which those countries gladly sold him to prevent an outright Iranian victory.----

From my understanding that is completely false. According to the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research (http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/atirq_data.html) total arms sales to Iraq (1970-1990) from the US were less than 1%. And most of that 1% is consists of Bell helicopters that were civilian but later fitted with gun turrets by the Iraqis. And the Brits were also less than one percent.

What weapons is he talking about? Mirages I know they had but any US or UK sytems I'm unaware of....

[Wraith]

Good question. Money the root of all evils?

[tgambill]

Chemical and Biological weapons..............

[Rahmulus]

little more info please.... if you are saying that the US and UK sold chemical and biological weapons to Saddam, I think you are going to have to come up with a bit more.

I know the Germans, French and Russians sold them equiptment to make the gas. I think an American company sold (illegally) a chemical that is nessasary to make the gas but they were a very minor participant.

It's old tech and fairly simple to make...

[tgambill]

Let me know your opinion.....


http://www.iraqwatch.org/suppliers/index.html

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0908-08.htm

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1213-02.htm