Saddam's November surprise

Saddam says:

"The President believes the verdict is timed to boost Bush's plunging popularity.

Saddam's lawyer says:

"There will be a catastrophe the region has never witnessed before. I am scared the people who pushed America in occupying Iraq will again drive the idiot Bush to a politically inspired verdict, but he will pay a heavy price for it,"

So, let's see. Saddam thinks that an escalation of sectarian violence, which he loathes, is something Bush would "time" to occur two days before the election? He must not be able to view his handiwork on CNN anymore.

But hey, he's got company. And not just from pointy heads:

"Your primary enemy (the United States) recognises with full humility that its entry into Iraq was a mistake... Persevere. The first signs of victory in Iraq are showing," he said.

MORE 11/4/06

With the impending verdict (and the unknown reaction) only hours away this article seems to be quite instructive regards our current dilemma:

The Americans realize now that the present formula of Shiite domination in Iraq will not help them leave,' said Mustapha al-Ani, a Dubai-based Iraqi analyst. 'They are looking for a new balance of power in Iraq.'

No doubt Saddam will be judged guilty and sentenced to death. How that might affect the 'balance of power' we're allegedly searching for remains to be seen.

THE CLIENT 11/05/06








No surprise in the verdict, and no surprise in the coverage. Here's an AP story that within the first 3 paragraphs and without a shred of evidence suggests Bush timed the event for political purposes, unless "critics accuse" amounts to evidence nowadays in the MSM.

How's the Butcher taking it? Well, here's what was attributed to him through his sock puppet lawyer:

"His message to the Iraqi people was 'pardon and do not take revenge on the invading nations and their people,'" al-Dulaimi said. "The president also asked his countrymen to 'unify in the face of sectarian strife.'"

How touching. Saddam has always been about pan Arabic unity. Problem is, we heard from the man himself on the way out the door:

"Long live the people and death to their enemies. Long live the glorious nation, and death to its enemies!"

Perhaps Ramsey Clark can define exactly who those enemies are.

MORE 11/05/06

I know this is already everywhere on the web, but it's certainly a skin-tingler to see that man be forced to stand and hear the verdict. I fully understand that most of the celebrating is largely coming from the Kurds and Shia, but deservedly so. Those who continue to support this man don't deserve to remain a part of the free world, in my humble opinion, and will likely prove themselves worthy of such very soon.

But viewed from afar Saddam's drama is simply another act in a long play rooted in a tree of bitterness and revenge. Peace will never come unless they can find a way to yank the root out. Defeated General Robert E. Lee once opined on the subject thusly:

Taken to see a woman whose prized tree had had its branches shot away by Federal artillery, he urged her, ''Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it.''

ONE MORE 11/05/06

To all the detractors who piously claimed Saddam and bin Laden could never work together due to their secular vs fundamentalist differences, notice that the Butcher was clutching a Qu'ran and alternately chanting "Allah Akbar" while being sentenced.

Some TN Bloggers reporting on the story (from both left and right perspectives): Right Truth, Knox Views, Right Minded, Salem's Lot, Nashville for the 21st Century, Newscoma, and Traction Control.