Cable reveals details about Saddam Hussein's 'hastily run' execution

[IScreamSundays]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- A January 2007 State Department cable published by WikiLeaks reveals new details about what happened before and during the controversial execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The document, which recounts a meeting between the then-U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, and chief prosecutor Munqith Faroon, was written two weeks after the event. It reveals many of the minute details involved in the preparations for the execution as well as Hussein's final moments, when cell phone camera video captured him on the gallows while being taunted by witnesses.

Fourteen Iraqi officials took a helicopter flight from the International Zone to the execution site. According to the document, these officials were searched by U.S. marshals, who took their cell phones "for operational security reasons" and returned the devices when the officials returned by helicopter after the execution.

According to the cable, Faroon said the only witnesses were the 14 officials who flew by helicopter and the guards who were already on the scene. But the same document contradicts him, as it reports an SUV with six Iraqi government personnel arrived at the scene an hour before the execution. These six are described as the Iraqi government's "video personnel" and personal security detail.

more:

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/06/wikileaks.saddam/

[hlthe2b]

1. I am still horrified by that whole debacle...

No matter what Saddam's crimes, I don't know how that episode can be anything but cringe-inducing.

[truth2power]

5. I've always thought they couldn't get him executed fast enough, not

because of any crimes he committed, they don't care about crimes, obviously, but because of what he knew and could tell if he lived.

The biggest reason I didn't feel sorry for Saadam was that he got what he deserved for EVER trusting the US govt.

Karzi, likewise. When the US is through with him they'll trump up charges and off him without another thought. Why don't these supposed leaders understand how evil the US govt. is?

[No Elephants]

6. I very much doubt Saddam or Karzai ever trusted the U.S.

[Blue_Tires]

12. +1

[WhiteTara]

19. Noriega got off with a light sentence

he lived to tell the tale is now off to France for another prison stint.

[defendandprotect]

22. It seems rather obvious that he was tortured .....

[Rex]

2. I'm sure the BFEE couldn't wait to have Saddam executed.

I'm surprised Ma Bush wasn't there putting the noose around his neck personally. You know Rummy was happy with the outcome.

[cowcommander]

4. Did W. ever meet Saddam personally?

He always said he wanted to take revenge against Saddam. Least he could've done was meet him face-to-face after fucking up his country.

[Swagman]

8. B**h ?...too much of a coward to be in on the action

[saigon68]

17. Ma Bush would have ripped off his testicles

Amazing she doesn't have a job at Obama's TSA

[DearAbby]

3. Well well well, the video was leaked by our own

and blamed on someone else? For what purpose? And truly disgusting if not surprising.

[No Elephants]

7. Another "Mission Accomplished" message. Dummya had had the gall to speak publicly of "regime

change," even though starting a war for that reason violates international law. (Hence, the WMD, yellow cake, self defense, 911 bullshit).

Viewing Saddam's hanging = "mission of regime change accomplished, once and for all' in visual form.

It's as though Dummya were Babe Ruth, pointing to where his home run ball would land, then showing us a video of the ball landing exactly where he said it would.

[lunatica]

9. Very good analogy

Because it's probably exactly what happened. Dubya knew what was going to happen, and it had nothing to do with being prescient. It had everything to do with well laid plans. Why else would they suddenly lose interest in the war on Afghanistan (you notice I didn't say 'with' Afghanistan) and attack Iraq? The oilman was doing his job getting our oil in Iraq.

[Roland99]

10. He was executed for actions tacitly approved by Reagan/Rumsfeld.

[Doctor_J]

11. Made for TV murder. Amazing how sociopathic George Bush is

He might be the most evil man in america

[alfredo]

14. No, the evilest man in America was the man that created

the hard plastic packaging that needs armor piercing munitions to open.

[GSLevel9]

15. +1!!!! nt

[alfredo]

16. Want to compare scars?

[Jamastiene]

20. Oh, hell, yeah!

I'd like to see the asshole that invented that crap brought to justice.

[alfredo]

21. Make him try to open one with just an emory board and

eyelash curler.

[MurrayDelph]

13. I'm still waiting for the leaks that talk about

putting Saddam INTO that oubliette he was found in.

[Mimosa]

18. That execution was vious, inhumane and against Geneva Convention. n/t