SADDAM HUSSEIN BEING TAKEN AWAY IN SHACKLES; EXECUTION CHAMBER AT ABU GHRAIB PRISON.
Dar Al-Hayat,
Lebanon
Saddam's Death Will 'Double the Pain'
“Saddam was evil. But to be honest, we should say that Iraq now lives under the sway of people who are much worse than Saddam.”
By Ghassan Charbel
December 29, 2006
Lebanon - Dar Al-Hayat - Original
Article (English) 
Saddam
Hussein's fate is of no importance. Although he never expected to die in payment
for his wrongdoing, he always felt that that somewhere, there was a bullet with
his name on it – or that there was a plot against him. He was always sure that
a scheme was afoot and was about to be put into effect.
Saddam
knew that suffering awaited any Iraqi ruler that became weak. His corpse would be
dragged throughout the streets of Baghdad until it was mutilated beyond
recognition. That is why he immediately attacked anyone he considered a
potential source of danger. He was the ruler, the judge and the jury. His
opponents were sent to the gallows without evidence based on his own personal rage.
It is out
of question to try and defend Saddam or look for reasons to commute his
sentence. His crimes at home, and even beyond Iraq's borders, are flagrant. He was
a crude and cruel dictator whose practices spawned nations of widows and
orphans. Therefore, he deserves to be punished. But talk of his death sentence
being upheld should not distract us from what is much more serious: the
destruction of Iraq, which is being carried out by both Iraqis and non-Iraqis.
The fate
of Saddam, as a person, is trivial. We wish he had been tried in an Iraq where
democracy and the rule of law prevail. We wish his trial had been a signal of
the victory of justice and the end of injustice, tyranny and totalitarianism.
Saddam
was evil. But, to be honest, we should say that Iraq now lives under the sway
of people who are much worse than Saddam.
We can
simply say that the execution of Iraq is much worse than the crimes of Saddam.
Much worse are those who overthrew the Saddam regime, opened the door to the
unknown, dissolved the Iraqi Army, promoted and politicized the idea of De-Baathification,
seized the opportunity to take revenge on Saddam's party, formed death squads,
practiced sectarian killing, displaced people and triggered sectarianism.
Much
worse than Saddam are those who exploited the power vacuum to infiltrate into
Iraq to turn it into a hunting ground and a trap.
Much worse than Saddam are those who consider the killing of U.S.
soldiers a sound justification for killing Iraq and Iraqis.
Much
worse than Saddam are Iraqi politicians who implement foreign agendas at the
expense of their country.
Saddam
was a cruel dictator, but Iraqis could at least exist during his reign. The
decision to write Iraq off is more dangerous than all of Saddam's adventures.
This has undermined the historic balance in the region and dealt a setback to all
Arabs. This is more dangerous than the plight of Palestine and has triggered a level
of sedition that could lead to the destruction of other Arab nations.
I know
that many people dream of seeing Saddam dead. They count the days and are preparing
to celebrate. They want to avenge their families. But the scene would double
the pain. The body of Saddam will add fuel to the fire
and will underpin the plot to destroy Iraq. Those who are happy with the
status quo in Iraq should reconsider. In due course, this scene will make many Iraqis
and Arabs lament the loss of Saddam.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF SADDAM'S EXECUTION
VIDEO FROM DUBAI: SADDAM DAUGHTER
COMPLAINS FATHER'S TRIAL IS 'UNJUST'
Abu Dhabi TV, U.A.E.: Excerpts from an interview with Saddam Hussein's daughter Raghad, Apr. 9, 00:02:26, Via MEMRI
"The trial is not a just trial, I'm not the only one saying this trial is not just."
Saddam Hussein's Daughter Raghad
[NEWSWIRE PHOTOS: Saddam Hussein].
