MSNBC Breaking: Saddam has been handed over to the Iraqis. Execution by tomorrow, Iraq time.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16389128 /

Lawyer: Saddam has been handed over to Iraqis
Separately, top judge says former president will be executed by Saturday

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein will be executed by Saturday, an Iraqi judge said Friday after the United States reportedly transferred him to Iraqi custody.

{...}

Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld Saddam’s death sentence, said that “Saddam will be executed today or tomorrow. All the measures have been done.”

{...}

Earlier Friday, Iraqi officials said that Saddam's half brothers visited him in his jail cell on Thursday and he gave them his will and personal belongings.

The former president had been at an American military prison.

More at link

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Okay, so who's taking bets on how long the MSM orgasms over this one? A week? 2 weeks?

[DesertRat]

1. CNN is already orgasmic over it

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. I heard that last night they were analyzing the physiological reactions to hanging.

"First the blood rushes to the head.."

[tridim]

2. Is he in Iraqi custody or not?

There seems to be some confusion on CNN. What does "Iraqi custody" mean?

Now saying "Email confirmation" that he's in custody. Confirmation by freaking E-mail? Why does everything have to be such a clusterfuck with these clowns?

[WritingIsMyReligion]

4. I have no idea.

This is so fucked-up.

[musette_sf]

5. just in time

for "something" to "happen" before the Dems take Congress back.



i mean, really, what do you think they're really talking about at the pig ranch?

[WritingIsMyReligion]

6. I know.

[Prophet 451]

7. I'm thinking about ten days

and the Bush admin will trumpet it for at least three months.

Not that I don't think the bastard deserves to die but executing even the most whacked-out psycho should never be a cause for celebration.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

8. It reminds me, as so much today does, of 1984.

Winston's neighbor's kids get really pissed off because they aren't allowed to go to one of the weekly hangings of "traitors" in the park. Really fucked-up, disturbed children.

[Prophet 451]

9. Exactly

I believe the death penalty is occasionally necessary but it should never be something we're pleased to do.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

11. Well, in Orwell's "alternate" universe, people were really excited.

I don't know about the daeth penalty at all--it seems to be a more fitting punishment would be to make somebody rot in jail for the rest of his/her life rather than giving him/her an end, no matter how agonizing that end might be--but in any case, being jubilant over it is really inhumane, and not something I would think any progressive should do.

[Prophet 451]

13. People often were

If you go back and look at the histories of nations when public executions were allowed, crowds would often turn out, public entertainers, even souveniers of a sort (satirised to great effect in Blackadder).

My endorsement of teh death penalty rests on the principle that there are a rare few criminals who are simply too dangerous to allow them to live. Even if the chance of them escaping or being released is miniscule, the chance is still there and for that rare few, even that tiny chance is too much of a risk to take. Obviously, any execution must be as humane as possible and follow only after due process of law. However, I can also see the point of those who disagree with any execution on moral grounds. I think this is one where reasonable people of fair mind can genuinely disagree.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

15. But that's just the point, re: historical hangings.

That was in the Middle Ages, up to, what, the 1800s? Surely we should be advanced beyond that now. Apparently the gruesome parts of human nature stick around a lot more reliably than the good ones do.

[Prophet 451]

17. Such is human nature, sadly n/t

[Rosemary2205]

14. Early America didn't even have prisons

they thought a long time in prison was cruel and inhuman. The death penalty was considered more humane for people would could not be trusted out in society. The jails they did have were there just to hold you long enough to have a trial and sentencing, which was usually carried out immediately.

So say the historians at Williamsburg Virginia anyways.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

16. I believe it.

[BuyingThyme]

10. Nothing like handing a sovereign leader to a sovereign country.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

12. Should be, er, "interesting," that's for sure.

[indepat]

18. Let this be a warning and admonition to all practicing war criminals

[brettdaleonhoilday]

19. THIS WONT BRING BACK

The 2996 US Troops that have been Killed in Iraq.