Countdown to Justice
Well, I’m sure that you all have heard this by now, but in case you haven’t:
Hussein to be hanged by Saturday – judge
Lawyers representing Saddam Hussein say they have been notified that US forces have handed over former leader to Iraqi custody; Iraqi judge: Saddam to be hanged by Saturday at latest
Associated Press – Ynet News
12.29.06
Lawyers representing Saddam Hussein reported Friday that the condemned former leader was no longer in US custody and issued an appeal to stop his execution.
The physical hand-over of Saddam to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he was to be hanged, although the lawyers’ statement did not specifically say Saddam was in Iraqi hands.
“A few minutes ago we received correspondence from the Americans saying that President Saddam Hussein is no longer under the control of US forces,” according to the statement faxed to The Associated Press.
US State Department spokesperson Tom Casey denied the report saying Saddam remain in US custody, AFP reported.
In Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has signed the death sentence against Saddam, a government official said.
But the official, who refused to be identified by name because he was not authorized to release the information, said that Iraqi authorities were not yet in control of Saddam.
“We will get him when the execution is going to be carried out,” said the official, who refused to give other details.
The discrepancy could not be explained.
The defense team statement called on “everybody to do everything to stop this unfair execution.”
‘By Saturday at the latest’
Earlier, an Iraqi judge said that the former leader will be executed by Saturday at the latest.
“Saddam will be executed today or tomorrow,” said Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld the former dictator’s death sentence. “All the measures have been done.”
Haddad is authorized to attend the execution on behalf of the judiciary. “I am ready to attend and there is no reason for delays,” Haddad said.
US forces on alert
The Defense Department said Friday that US forces in Iraq are braced for any violence that may follow the execution.
“US 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. “They’ll obviously take into account social dimensions that could potentially led to an increase in violence which certainly would include carrying out the sentence of Saddam Hussein.”
Saddam has been in US custody since he was captured in December 2004, and his lawyers said Friday that he had been handed over to Iraqi authorities.
Whitman said: “Our forces stay at a constant state of high readiness in Iraq and I would expect through this period they would do the same.”
He would not comment further on any potential troop movements to strengthen security for the execution, but said the commanders in Iraq have the ability to move forces as they deem appropriate based on conditions on the ground.
Whitman also said he would not comment on anything that President Bush might be contemplating in terms of changing US war policy in Iraq or in connection with the intensive administration review now under way on American strategy there.
AFP contributed to this report
29 December, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Justice makes the world a better place.
Killing Saddam… won’t make this world a better place.
It’s justice but it doesn’t work.
What a waste of western concept.
29 December, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Actually killing Saddam is the only guarantee he will not return to power. Imagine the bloodbath that would result from his followers breaking him out and him reclaiming a leadership role.
29 December, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Macka,
Maybe not for you, maybe not for me, but for the thousands of families Saddam tore apart through his tyrannical rule, I would say that the world has been made a better place for them.
And, after all, isn’t that part of what Justice is about – helping in some small way, the mental mending of the victims and their families through appropriate punishment of the guilty ?
29 December, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Too bad the execution couldn’t be delayed until the US left-it would stink if American troops get injured by enraged blood Baathists.
30 December, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Macka–who died and made you the big expert of the world? Justice doesn’t work, Hhhuunhh? Western concept????? What a limp wristed mind you have.
31 December, 2006 at 4:11 pm
I was all for killing that bloody monster, and getting rid of him..His country-men seem happy with his passing.. All I see on TV is people outside celebrating.. Also his country-men in Canada go on TV and are really happy to see the end of his “tyrannical rule”.. This means alot to many families in Iraq, some justice at last..
Cheers