President Bush dug deep into his dictionary and emotions yesterday, when he criticised the recent hanging of Saddam Hussein's' aides, and described Saddam's manner of execution as "fumbled".
Quote:
"I was disappointed and felt like they fumbled the particularly the Saddam Hussein execution."
He added that the execution of Saddam was like "kind of a revenge killing".
Bush claims that he had expressed disappointment to Prime Minister al-Maliki about the way Saddam's execution was handled.
"The message is that it's a confusing message.
It basically says to people, 'Look, you conducted a trial and gave Saddam justice that he didn't give to others. But then, when it came to execute him, it looked like it was kind of a revenge killing.' And it sent a mixed signal to the American people and the people around the world.
And it just goes to show that this is a government that has still got some maturation to do."
It is unlikely that Prime Minister al-Maliki will heed these comments, or indeed care very much. The new administration in Iraq is now busy making friends with Iran.
It would seem that President Bush is beginning to realise that the form of democratic government that he hoped would take root in Iraq, after the removal of Saddam, is not taking the form that he would have wished for.
Doh!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Decapitation
I questioned, in a recent article, whether matters with regard to making Saddam a martyr after his state "lynching" could be made any worse.
Well, it seems that the current administration in Iraq has managed to do just that; with the bungled hanging and decapitation of one of the two allies of Saddam, Barzan Ibrahim - Saddam Hussein's half brother - and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, who was chief judge of the Revolutionary Court.
Seemingly this bungled execution has been filmed, and the footage actually shows the decapitation of Barzan Ibrahim.
Officials claim that the video will never become public.
Believe that?
I don't!
The USA, UN and EU have all expressed dismay at the execution, some more so than others.
Needless to say, this latest fiasco hardly draws the poison from those that claim the current administration in Iraq is merely a Shia mob intent on exacting retribution on the Sunni minority.
Well, it seems that the current administration in Iraq has managed to do just that; with the bungled hanging and decapitation of one of the two allies of Saddam, Barzan Ibrahim - Saddam Hussein's half brother - and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, who was chief judge of the Revolutionary Court.
Seemingly this bungled execution has been filmed, and the footage actually shows the decapitation of Barzan Ibrahim.
Officials claim that the video will never become public.
Believe that?
I don't!
The USA, UN and EU have all expressed dismay at the execution, some more so than others.
Needless to say, this latest fiasco hardly draws the poison from those that claim the current administration in Iraq is merely a Shia mob intent on exacting retribution on the Sunni minority.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Saddam's Half Brother Hanged
Saddam Hussein's half brother and a former Iraqi judge were executed today, for their role in the 1982 killing of 148 Shiite Muslims in the village of Dujail.
Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Iraq's intelligence chief at the time of the killings, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, who issued death sentences to Dujail residents as the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court, were hanged today for crimes against humanity.
Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi opposed the executions, he said:
"The president already made an appeal and I had strong reservations. It is unfortunate."
Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, had already stated his opposition to the death penalty.
The new administration in Iraq tends not to listen, when it comes to appeals for clemency for Sunnis.
The execution took place in the presence of a prosecutor, a doctor and a judge. In an attempt not to botch these executions, in the same way that Saddam's was botched, the authorities made all witnesses and executors sign a document outlining rules of conduct for the event.
However, despite this, Barzan al-Tikriti was decapitated during the hanging. A spokesman said the decapitation of Barzan was not abnormal, although it was rare, and described it as "an act of God".
Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Iraq's intelligence chief at the time of the killings, and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, who issued death sentences to Dujail residents as the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court, were hanged today for crimes against humanity.
Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi opposed the executions, he said:
"The president already made an appeal and I had strong reservations. It is unfortunate."
Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, had already stated his opposition to the death penalty.
The new administration in Iraq tends not to listen, when it comes to appeals for clemency for Sunnis.
The execution took place in the presence of a prosecutor, a doctor and a judge. In an attempt not to botch these executions, in the same way that Saddam's was botched, the authorities made all witnesses and executors sign a document outlining rules of conduct for the event.
However, despite this, Barzan al-Tikriti was decapitated during the hanging. A spokesman said the decapitation of Barzan was not abnormal, although it was rare, and described it as "an act of God".
Friday, January 12, 2007
Saddam Stopped Appeal
Saddam Hussein, in his final will, dictated to his principal Iraqi defence counsel Khalil al-Dulaimi 24 hours before his December 30 execution, instructed his legal team to stop all appeals.
He stated that the impending execution was the work of US and Iranian collaboration.
The document instructed his lawyers to "decide whatever is related to me except appealing for the life of Saddam Hussein to any of the presidents, kings, Arabs or foreigners."
Seemingly the UK appealed to Iraq to stop the excecution, contrary to US wishes, but was ignored.
He stated that the impending execution was the work of US and Iranian collaboration.
The document instructed his lawyers to "decide whatever is related to me except appealing for the life of Saddam Hussein to any of the presidents, kings, Arabs or foreigners."
Seemingly the UK appealed to Iraq to stop the excecution, contrary to US wishes, but was ignored.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Fortress Baghdad
President Bush announced the implementation of his "Fortress Baghdad" policy yesterday. Which, in summary, involves sending another 20,000 or so US troops to Baghdad together with a similar number of Iraqi troops.
In hard political terms, even though this is utter folly and will result in many more civilian and military deaths, Bush has no choice but to do this.
Bush is in the final leg of his presidency, he is looking to leave a legacy. Currently the legacy of his presidency will be that of catastrophic failure at home and abroad; with the Republican party pushed out of Congress, the Senate and more than likely the Oval Office.
Bush, in his mind, has nothing left to lose, and everything to gain by throwing another 20,000 troops at the problem.
The fact that they are to be positioned only in Baghdad indicates that Bush has realised that the rest of Iraq is now beyond hope. His strategy, if that phrase can be used for this folly, is to maintain fortress Baghdad and the world's largest embassy; thus giving the US some foothold in the Middle East, which is now in total chaos as a result of the failed US venture.
All is not lost for Bush, Britain's foreign secretary Margaret Beckett came out in strong support of Bush today; saying that she was pleased that he was doing this.
What she forgot to mention was that Britain will not be putting more troops in to back up our US allies, but in fact withdrawing 3,000 in the coming months.
Bush stands isolated in his Whitehouse bunker, at home and abroad, it is only a matter of time before he is forced to yield.
Unfortunately his imminent demise has been brought about at the heavy price of thousands of lives, and utter chaos in the Middle East.
Mission Accomplished!
In hard political terms, even though this is utter folly and will result in many more civilian and military deaths, Bush has no choice but to do this.
Bush is in the final leg of his presidency, he is looking to leave a legacy. Currently the legacy of his presidency will be that of catastrophic failure at home and abroad; with the Republican party pushed out of Congress, the Senate and more than likely the Oval Office.
Bush, in his mind, has nothing left to lose, and everything to gain by throwing another 20,000 troops at the problem.
The fact that they are to be positioned only in Baghdad indicates that Bush has realised that the rest of Iraq is now beyond hope. His strategy, if that phrase can be used for this folly, is to maintain fortress Baghdad and the world's largest embassy; thus giving the US some foothold in the Middle East, which is now in total chaos as a result of the failed US venture.
All is not lost for Bush, Britain's foreign secretary Margaret Beckett came out in strong support of Bush today; saying that she was pleased that he was doing this.
What she forgot to mention was that Britain will not be putting more troops in to back up our US allies, but in fact withdrawing 3,000 in the coming months.
Bush stands isolated in his Whitehouse bunker, at home and abroad, it is only a matter of time before he is forced to yield.
Unfortunately his imminent demise has been brought about at the heavy price of thousands of lives, and utter chaos in the Middle East.
Mission Accomplished!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Blair Breaks Silence
Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that the manner of Saddam Hussein's execution was completely wrong and unacceptable.
Blair has finally broken the embarrassing silence that he has maintained on the subject, since returning from holiday in the US.
Quote:
"The crimes that Saddam committed does not excuse the manner of his execution, but the manner of his execution does not excuse the crimes."
Blair has finally broken the embarrassing silence that he has maintained on the subject, since returning from holiday in the US.
Quote:
"The crimes that Saddam committed does not excuse the manner of his execution, but the manner of his execution does not excuse the crimes."
From Beyond The Grave
Saddam Hussein may be dead, but his voice was clearly heard in the courtroom on Monday; when a recording was played of him talking with his cousin, known as "Chemical Ali", about killing thousands of Kurds in the 1980's.
Saddam was heard to say:
"These weapons are only used at my orders..
It will force them out of their homes without water or food. It makes them evacuate their homes naked."
The trial continues.
Saddam was heard to say:
"These weapons are only used at my orders..
It will force them out of their homes without water or food. It makes them evacuate their homes naked."
The trial continues.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Blair Uses Bush as Shield
Tony Blair will attempt to use President Bush's announcement tomorrow, about the increase in American troops in Iraq by 20,000, to cover his statement condemning the execution of Saddam.
Blair opposes the death penalty, yet because he is subservient to Bush cannot make too much of a public fuss over the state "lynching" of Saddam. However, Blair's ministers Brown and Prescott have already publicly condemned the execution; therefore Blair has to make some form of comment, as people are asking why he has been so silent on the matter.
Bush's statement will provide perfect cover for Blair.
Some cynics note that when Blair leaves office this year, he is hoping to make large amounts of money on the US lecture circuit. To openly criticise Bush would risk offending his future paymasters.
In other news, the corpse of Saddam is now being used to rally support by those sympathetic to him. A video of Saddam's corpse, apparently taken shortly after he was hanged, was posted on the net by a group sympathetic to Saddam.
It seems that the Iraqi and US authorities could not have screwed this execution up more, even if they tried to.
Blair opposes the death penalty, yet because he is subservient to Bush cannot make too much of a public fuss over the state "lynching" of Saddam. However, Blair's ministers Brown and Prescott have already publicly condemned the execution; therefore Blair has to make some form of comment, as people are asking why he has been so silent on the matter.
Bush's statement will provide perfect cover for Blair.
Some cynics note that when Blair leaves office this year, he is hoping to make large amounts of money on the US lecture circuit. To openly criticise Bush would risk offending his future paymasters.
In other news, the corpse of Saddam is now being used to rally support by those sympathetic to him. A video of Saddam's corpse, apparently taken shortly after he was hanged, was posted on the net by a group sympathetic to Saddam.
It seems that the Iraqi and US authorities could not have screwed this execution up more, even if they tried to.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Charges Against Saddam Dropped
In a bizarre twist, all charges against Saddam Hussein for the killing of 180,000 Kurds in the 1980s have been dropped.
Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa dropped all the charges, as Saddam's trial resumed this morning. The charges were dropped as, of course, Saddam is now dead.
Saddam's six co-defendants still face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
As noted earlier, the rush to execute Saddam has deprived many of seeing justice done.
Hardly a fitting beginning for the "new" Iraq.
Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa dropped all the charges, as Saddam's trial resumed this morning. The charges were dropped as, of course, Saddam is now dead.
Saddam's six co-defendants still face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
As noted earlier, the rush to execute Saddam has deprived many of seeing justice done.
Hardly a fitting beginning for the "new" Iraq.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Bush Rehabilitates Saddam
It beggars belief that Bush, surely the worst president in living memory, could further sully his reputation for incompetence.
Yet it appears that he has managed just that.
As if the fiasco of the post Iraq occupation was not bad enough, it seems according to reports that the manner of the state "lynching" of Saddam Hussein (which had been approved of by the US, and endorsed "after the fact" by Bush) has rallied support for Saddam on "Arab Street".
Bush has succeeded in reversing Saddam's image from that of failed dictator, to Arab martyr. No wonder Saddam had a smile on his face as he approached the gallows.
It should also be noted that it is reported that Bush has not actually seen the video of Saddam's execution.
As to the future, those of you who think that the failure in Iraq has taught Bush anything will be sorely disappointed. He is currently rallying an alliance of Saudi Arabia, Israel and the UK to take action against Iran.
The newly elected Congress and Senate in the US will need to get its act together very quickly, if it is to stop Bush starting something that would make the Iraq debacle look like a stunning success.
Yet it appears that he has managed just that.
As if the fiasco of the post Iraq occupation was not bad enough, it seems according to reports that the manner of the state "lynching" of Saddam Hussein (which had been approved of by the US, and endorsed "after the fact" by Bush) has rallied support for Saddam on "Arab Street".
Bush has succeeded in reversing Saddam's image from that of failed dictator, to Arab martyr. No wonder Saddam had a smile on his face as he approached the gallows.
It should also be noted that it is reported that Bush has not actually seen the video of Saddam's execution.
As to the future, those of you who think that the failure in Iraq has taught Bush anything will be sorely disappointed. He is currently rallying an alliance of Saudi Arabia, Israel and the UK to take action against Iran.
The newly elected Congress and Senate in the US will need to get its act together very quickly, if it is to stop Bush starting something that would make the Iraq debacle look like a stunning success.
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