Free Republic

Reporting for the Tuesday edition of CNN’s "Newsroom," correspondent Arwa Damon labeled Saddam Hussein’s execution "an act of sheer revenge" and predicted it would have only negative consequences. Damon now joins NBC reporter Richard Engel who last week also described the death of the tyrant as "revenge." Additionally, Ms. Damon characterized the grainy cell phone footage of Hussein’s death as "chilling" and noted that onlookers "taunted" Saddam. The CNN reporter suggested that the execution of the former Iraqi leader would further split the country apart: Arwa Damon: "With Shia chants defining Saddam Hussein's last moments, it turns his execution into...

Outrage mounts over 'lynch mob' hanging By Neil Tweedie Last Updated: 2:01am GMT 02/01/2007 The execution of Saddam Hussein – widely condemned yesterday as more an exercise in lynch law than judicial punishment – was rushed through by the Iraqi government despite American requests for a delay. A senior Iraqi source said the US ambassador in Baghdad wanted the hanging to be postponed for two weeks but relented when the Shia dominated government rushed through documents approving it. It appeared that the United States was anxious the execution should not be carried out with unseemly haste. The disclosure follows a...

Media 'repulsed' by Saddam footage AFP Sunday, December 31, 2006 20:23 IST LONDON: Commentators and the media across Europe expressed shock and unease on Sunday at graphic television pictures showing the last moments of Saddam Hussein just before his execution. Images of the fallen Iraqi dictator with a noose around his neck, surrounded by hooded xecutioners, horrified a continent which does not use capital punishment, even though the actual death was not shown. "The images of Saddam Hussein with a noose around his neck are extremely disturbing and unnecessary," said Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of Britain's second opposition Liberal Democrat...