Saddam Hussein Executed

Former Iraqi Dictator Hanged; U.S. Forces On High Alert For Surge In Violence

(CBS/AP)  Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after three years in U.S. custody, CBS News has confirmed. He died before dawn Saturday in Iraq, which was just before 10 p.m. Friday EST.

Saddam was convicted of murder in the killings of 148 Shiite Muslims from an Iraqi town where assassins tried to kill Saddam in 1982.

Clutching a Quran and refusing a hood, Saddam Hussein went to the gallows before sunrise, executed by vengeful countrymen after a quarter-century of remorseless brutality that killed countless thousands and led Iraq into disastrous wars against the United States and Iran.

In Baghdad's Shiite enclave of Sadr City, people danced in the streets while others fired guns in the air to celebrate the former dictator's death. The government did not impose a round-the-clock curfew as it did last month when Saddam was convicted to thwart any surge in retaliatory violence.

Ali Hamza, a 30-year-old university professor, said he went outside to shoot his gun into the air after he heard the news.

"Now all the victims' families will be happy because Saddam got his just sentence," said Hamza, who lives in Diwaniyah, a Shiite town 80 miles south of Baghdad.

"We are looking for a new page of history despite the tragedy of the past," said Saif Ibrahim, a 26-year-old Baghdad resident.

But people in the Sunni-dominated city of Tikrit, once a power base of Saddam, lamented his death.

"The president, the leader Saddam Hussein is a martyr and God will put him along with other martyrs. Do not be sad nor complain because he has died the death of a holy warrior," said Sheik Yahya al-Attawi, a cleric at the Saddam Big Mosque.

It was a grim end for the 69-year-old leader who had vexed three U.S. presidents. Despite his ouster, Washington, its allies and the new Iraqi leaders remain mired in a fight to quell a stubborn insurgency by Saddam loyalists and a vicious sectarian conflict.

CBS News correspondent Randall Pinskton confirmed Saddam's death from his defense attorney. It had been reported by Arab television stations in Iraq.

On his last night alive, Saddam sat alone on death row with his Koran, the Muslim holy book, Pinkston reports. As his time waned, Saddam received two of his half brothers in his cell and was said to have given them his personal belongings and a copy of his will.

The execution took place during the year's deadliest month for U.S. troops, with the toll reaching 108.

State-run Iraqiya television initially reported that Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, also were hanged. However, three officials later said only Saddam was executed.

"We wanted him to be executed on a special day," National Security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie told state-run Iraqiyah.

The Pentagon said that U.S. fighting forces in Iraq are ready for any escalation of violence there.

"U.S. forces in Iraq are obviously at a high state of alert anytime because of the environment that they operate in and because of the current security situation," said spokesman Bryan Whitman.

A statement from President Bush issued by the White House Friday night acknowledged Saddam's execution, calling it "the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime."

"Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself, and be an ally in the War on Terror," the statement said.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that until being turned over to Iraqi control, Saddam remained in a jail cell in U.S. custody. The U.S. military had been prepared since early Friday morning to hand over Saddam to the Iraqi government, which wanted to execute the deposed dictator as soon as possible.

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Lara Logan reports on Saddam's legacy
Watch CBS News' special report on Saddam's death
The downfall of a dictator

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Anticipation built around Saddam's hanging after an advisor to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said it would happen some time before 6:00 a.m. Baghdad time. Official witnesses to the execution gathered in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone in final preparation for his hanging, as state television broadcast footage of his regime's atrocities.

The Iraqi government had readied all the necessary documents, including a "red card" — an execution order introduced during Saddam's dictatorship.

Saddam had been in U.S. custody since he was captured in December 2003.

A member of Saddam's legal team said U.S. authorities were maintaining physical custody of Saddam to prevent him from being humiliated before his execution. He said the Americans also want to prevent the mutilation of his corpse, something that has happened to other deposed Iraqi leaders.

"The Americans want him to be hanged respectfully," al-Nueimi said. "If Saddam is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated," it could cause an uprising and the Americans would be blamed, he said.

Mariam al-Rayes, a legal expert and a former member of the Shiite bloc in parliament, told Iraqiya television that the execution "was filmed and God willing it will be shown. There was one camera present, and a doctor was also present there."

Al-Rayes, an ally of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, did not attend the execution. She said Al-Maliki did not attend but was represented by an aide.

Najeeb al-Nueimi, a member of Saddam's legal team in Qatar said he had requested a final meeting with the deposed Iraqi leader. "His daughter in Amman was crying, she said, 'Take me with you,'" al-Nueimi said late Friday.

Leading up to the execution, there was a religious issue that complicated the timing. The Muslim holy period of Eid begins this weekend, and there is some question whether Iraqi law permits a Muslim to be executed on a holy day. Martin reports that the Iraqi government reportedly consulted Muslim clerics.

Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld Saddam's death sentence, said he was ready to attend the hanging and that all the paperwork was in order, including the red card.

"All the measures have been done," Haddad said.

In the United States, just more than an hour before Saddam was executed, a judge rejected a request by his lawyers to delay the Iraqi leader's execution.

The attorneys had sought an emergency restraining order from a federal court in Washington to block Saddam's handover to Iraqi control. Earlier, a similar request made on behalf of Saddam's former chief justice was rejected by an appeals court. An appeal of the latest ruling is possible, but it's unclear if that will happen.

Saddam's lawyers issued a statement Friday calling on "everybody to do everything to stop this unfair execution." The statement also said the former president had been at the time transferred from U.S. custody, though American and Iraqi officials later denied that.

[gaye5]

Can anyone please tell me if this is true???
Military Considers Recruiting Foreigners

The armed forces, already struggling to meet recruiting goals, are considering expanding the number of noncitizens in the ranks -- including disputed proposals to open recruiting stations overseas and putting more immigrants on a faster track to US citizenship if they volunteer -- according to Pentagon officials.

Foreign citizens serving in the US military is a highly charged issue,it is essentially using mercenaries to defend the country.

And since Sept. 11, 2001, the number of immigrants in uniform who have become US citizens has increased from 750 in 2001 to almost 4,600 last year, according to military statistics.

"In the 19th century, when the foreign-born population of the United States was much higher, so was the percentage of foreigners serving in the military," Boot wrote in 2005.

"During the Civil War, at least 20 percent of Union soldiers were immigrants, and many of them had just stepped off the boat before donning a blue uniform. There were even entire units, like the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry [the Scandinavian Regiment] and General Louis Blenker's German Division, where English was hardly spoken."

Full Article

[gaye5]

Khaled Abu Nijmeh was one of Bethlehem's most-wanted Palestinian militants in the city,
suspected of involvement in a string of suicide bombings and shooting
attacks against Israelis. In May 2002, he was one of 13 gunmen escorted from
the Church of the Nativity siege in Bethlehem, flown to Cyprus and then to
exile in Europe. Several of his fellow deportees received their salaries
from the Palestinian Security Service payroll. Nijmeh proudly told Kalman of
his membership in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades alongside his job as first
sergeant in Palestinian General Intelligence. He was very pleased with the
CIA training that helped him learn the trade. "I was not alone. Many
Palestinian security people were trained by the Americans. We hope they will
continue helping us."

[gaye5]

I am just hoping that this isnt true, please can someone verify if it is???
It's now out that the American security coordinator in the territories, General Keith Dayton, has been giving secret training to the Palestinian Presidential Guard. It's part of his program to provide "support" to the Palestinian Fatah faction in its internal struggle with Hamas.

The initial training was conducted by American military instructors in a military camp near Jericho, for some 400 men. And now Dayton has asked the Quartet to put in place a program that will have Egyptian, British and perhaps even Jordanian instructors to train the force loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, helping it to grow to some 6,000 men.

In this context, the experience of previous US training efforts is of interest. Journalist Mathew Kalman revealed in the San Francisco Chronicle in early 2005 that as far back as 1998, the CIA spent tens of millions of dollars, contracting secret training for hundreds of Palestinian Security Service personnel, including members of Force 17.
then part two next

[vian_khafaji]

There are many facts that only the Iraqis who lived all there lives in Iraq know about. Saddam did not commit "some bad things", he committed atrocious crimes against the Iraqis. Let us recall some of them: executing 49 members of the Command council when he overthrown former President Ahmed Hassan Baker in 1979, at the same day. Executing 40 sugar merchants because they raised the sugar price few cents, after a one-day funny trail. Murdering scientists and religious men, like Raji Takriti in throwing him to the hungry dogs, just because the man was opposing him! what about toxic needles, burning in chemical fluids to hide traces, rapes, robbing the country, giving the whole Iraq in gold and diamond plate to USA! How about Invading and robbing Kuwait??? How about that! well i wish he was dragged in the streets and cut to pieces by the Iraqis just like what he and his maniac followers did to the Royal family and other Iraqi prominent figures.

[budarwish]

Even though Saddam may have done some bad things in his life, George Bush has indirectly ordered the killing of many more people. Saddam was the only strong Arab leader in the Gulf, the only one that some people here believe could protect them from the likes George Bush and Tony Blair. Before people judge him and the people in the Middle East they should find out the facts and not just belive what they are told by certain news programmes - most of which don't paint a true picture... Leave Iraq alone George, it doesn't belong to you.

[defirststate]

mick7744 I think you are guilty of the misinterpreting of which you accuse feelfree1. Sometimes the thoughts meant to be conveyed by words are more than the simple face value of those words. You might want to check out satire and irony to get the hang of it.

I could be wrong, I won't try to speak for him, but my impression is that he was pointing out that with the exception of the *** of the offspring both dumbya and Saddam generally meet the other criteria described. Both are responsible for uncountable murders, unspeakable torture, priviledged brats to whom rules can't apply, permitting the use of dogs for torture and/or humiliation. The specifics vary a bit but the same lack of principles and morals are shared by both the brutal former and the brutal would-be dictator.

[mick7744]

feelfree1
re:Re: "How do you put someone to death for uncountable murders...for unspeakable torture...for raising sons who thought it was their devine right to set dogs on married women who turned down their sexual advances?"

Please check your facts. Bush doesn't have any sons. He does deserve a fair trial, along with his handlers and cohorts, in my opinion. Anything less would be un-American.

feelfree1

Please learn to read and to correctly interpret what you have read...or better yet, learn to think (much more difficult%u2026BUT TRY)

WHO THE HELL WAS TALKING ABOUT BUSH?

[gaye5]

patriotic9, I read your posts and I have come to the conclusion that because of your bad experience and some of the things said on here by religious people, that you are somewhat out on your thinking of Christians, PSYCHOTICS NON BELIEVERS etc...
Just because non believers rape, murder, steal and have also caused many, many wars because of greed, hate and power I am not going to put YOU in the same basket as them... yes there are stupid religious people (and wars caused because of them) as there are stupid people in any club...
I have read the odd intelligent thing of yours so it would be good if you laid off the continuous barrage against what you so obviously hate and start writing the excellent posts as you are so obviously capable of doing.

Name calling is not at all productive.I would never put you down for your beliefs and it would be good if neither did you, it would then make reading your posts something of interest. I don't put all non religious people in the same basket, most are wonderful, as most religious people are too, it is simply humans who let humanity down...
patriotic9 "The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values." and %u201CDwelling on the negatives simply contributes to its power.%u201D

[gaye5]

mcdazz you said... if it weren't for Bush we would clearly be waiting for another terriost attack..
If Bush was protecting America he would read the last three quarters of the Quran, and others of muslim holy books.
Bush should be wondering!! Where is this moderate Islam? Why is "infidels" (Bush/Blair) explaining that global terrorism is a warped misinterpretation of Islam? Shouldn't it be Muslim's speaking for (not to mention protecting) their own religion? Where are the masses of Muslims who are leading or at least joining the war on terror?

Even the Joint Chiefs of Staff planners have produced a 27-page briefing, they have said that just support of 1 percent of the Muslim population would equate to over 12 million 'terrorists.' " thus Islamic extremists may be supported by 12 million Muslims worldwide, but some say that it could be as high as 30%, but even a 10% is horrific. I just wonder where the out rage is from the other 99% of Muslims..hmmmm...?????
1% is the number of Muslims who committ acts of terrorism however there is about 30% who agree with these acts and thus could be easily recruited. Even in the UK 40% of "them" want Sharia law.

So mcdazz, Bush hasnt a clue what he is up against because he and his merry men obviously dont read the source of terrorism..

[hermit22]

thgdriver,the new iraqi government must have thought those 148 people were important too!

[gaye5]

emberrayne you said... I can't understand how after 38 years active duty military service, you could not understand that military leaders make war, not citizens. and you are so right, if the leaders had to also go to war, I wonder if they would..I doubt it.. and Hitler himself said,,,%u201CWhat luck for rulers that men do not think.%u201D
- Adolf Hitler

[hermit22]

sorry! for whatever I did that took so much grey space!

[hermit22]

Gaye5, my outside well pump handle has snow parked on it and is frozen shut, so if you want to send some of the "hot down under in Brisbane"
I'll say, Thank you.

[gaye5]

emberrayne thank you for that friendly reminder FROM CBS RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, I was just going through the posts and wondering why I bother to read them...There are many who are of worth which I have learnt much from, but so many which makes me wonder if they have a brain... as I have posted here before, there is no need for nastiness, we are all entitled to our opinions and it can turn sensible people off posting for fear of being put down for their thoughts.
I am from Australia and am so appallued at what I read... Like many of you I dont like Bush, however if all had gone according to what they thought, we would all be calling him a hero, and I cant for the life of me see why anyone in their right mind would put their name, and country at risk if they didnt believe what they were doing...
I do have pictures of Russian planes which were dug out of the sand, I hope you can find it on the net with these details....
August 6, 2003 NewsMax.com has obtained exclusive photos of a buried Iraqi jet fighter being recovered by U.S. Air Force troops. The Iraqi jet, an advanced Russian MiG-25 Foxbat, was found buried in he sand after an informant tipped off U.S. troops. The MiG was dug out of a massive sand dune near the Al Taqqadum airfield by U.S. Air Force recovery teams. so why WMD..
The MiG was reportedly one of over two dozen Iraqi jets buried in the sand...
My question is, why would any leader (Bush)warn the enemy (Iraq)that he was coming for 18 months before he did so..???

[gaye5]

bildooreilly, very interesting on the stars etc......
I find it hard to keep up with you guys, as when I am asleep, you guys are awake...and man it is hot down under here in Brisbane....we need some of you rain desperately.. this is our summer and victoria has snow while we have drought.. Well you guys Saddam is finished but I have no doubt that someone else will carry on his murderious example, they seem to be full of people who are like Hitler or worse, could it be their teaching or hot weather...eheheh..

[gaye5]

newster1 you said that.... gaye5, the book has SOME medical and other stuff thrown in by the WRITERS, it was WRITTEN by men-
I am wondering how these people knew that by circumcising their men on the 8 day was the best day that the body clotted in all of its life, that circumcising would help to prevent cancer of the *** and other diseases etc. and unless their wives had, had many sexual partners that the wives of circumcised men were less likely to get cancer of the cervix, this is only a new discovery.... they were told to wash after touching the sick, dead, and going to the toilet, how did these men know then what we have only just discovered about 80 years ago????, that unwashed hands spread disease and can kill, Dr's would go from a dying or dead body to examine a pregnant woman without washing his hands causing her to die. Up until recently they have just thrown their faeces out into the roads or somewhere, the bible says to dig holes and cover your faeces then wash your hands. How did these men know that eating certain things could cause diseases???, as we have only recently discovered that there are reasons for this forbidden food, one of the reasons being that they are scavenges thus carry many flukes, worms and disease etc, etc etc...

[layram]

Saddam Hussein's death will not fix anything. I know he did terrible things, but it was MANY years ago. His death will not bring alive the deaths Saddam produced.I think that sentencing someone to die, is something that should not happen actually, it's inhuman. Would you like to be executed like he was?.. I don't think so. Don't do to the other people anything you don't want they do to you. Think about it.

[thgdriver]

canajun3 I repeat--"The enemy of my enemys is my friend". (I will add "good guy bad guy it don't matter")

Of course it's the oil always was. How could President Bush tell us the truth? Did he lie? Of course he did, but then again, who in our goverment does not? We have a foothold in the Middle East and I don't care who happens to be lying their as@ off to get in office, we are there to stay.

Hey Satan, whats Saddam having for dinner, I'll bet it's a heapen hot plate of smashed dic-tators.

[toshi43]

thgdriver, that's not 'spin' - it's the truth. Your government will support anyone, as long as it's in the American interest, ie, your corporate rulers can make a few bucks, and 'democracy' has nothing to do with it. Just look at the record - do the names Somoza, Batista and Diem, just to name a few, ring any bells? These right-wing, murdering dictators were every bit as bad as Saddam, and there are many more examples scattered through history.

You're right about one thing, though - it IS about the oil. If Saddam had no oil, no one would have given a rat's @#* how many people he gassed or tortured to death. And why do you think Bush hasn't attacked North Korea, which has WMDs and whose 'Great Leader' makes Saddam seem like a kindergarten teacher? Because it has no oil, and it will actually FIGHT BACK!

[missamerica4]

thgdriver

Saddamn is hating life right about now.
I think there is more than one "dictator" quietly reassessing their position.
It could happen to them !