Yes, no, maybe

Those wishing for neck-breaking news about Saddam might get their wish or they might not:

Officials indicated it seemed unlikely the former Iraqi president's sentence would be carried out before late January, despite a court statute that says executions must take place within 30 days after the sentence is confirmed.

Geez o' Pete. Of course, there's a possibility all of this is disinformation and Saddam is already dead or nearing the gallows, but it looks more like the Iraqis are having second thoughts. Maybe it was the Ba'athist threats, not only on the US but against Iran.

The frustration is showing a little on Bush and his team. During his Crawford press conference he put up his usual brave front, but his subordinates were a dour looking group of folks. I'd like to think there's a master plan in the hip pocket but their faces don't inspire such confidence.

Nobody should be surprised. In his book "America's Secret War" George Friedman (Stratfor) suggested the GWoT was being fought completely underground with both sides simply using the media to trade disinformation.

MORE 12/29/06

More uncertainty.

Meanwhile,

Two Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq were senior members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and had coordinated attacks against coalition troops and Iraqi civilians, the head of an Iranian opposition group said Thursday.

It still seems to me like some big, bad things are about to happen over there. Let's hope that's not the case.

MORE 12/29/06

The end of the road for Saddam is nigh, apparently. The Butcher has managed to attract sympathy from a few quarters, which happens every time an execution occurs. The New York Times editorializes against it, based apparently on the fact that things will not improve (as if they would improve if Saddam remained alive somewhere).

Their assertion that the trial was "flawed, politicized and divisive" is laughably specious. Let's take them one at a time. "Flawed"--most legal scholars involved said they followed international law. "Politicized"--Saddam and his minions can be solely blamed for that, disrupting the proceedings every chance they got. It wouldn't be surprising to one day learn they had their own lawyers murdered. "Divisive"--well, d'uh. Hardly avoidable.

My guess is that Times editors are right now working on stories that will suggest he was executed to keep former Reagan officials from being called to testify.

Speaking of conspiracies, this outa get 'em going:

If he is treated like other convicts, he could be hooded and dressed in green overalls with his hands bound behind his back

Depending on the video sequence we'll probably have a cottage industry of those claiming it was a dummy, and that Saddam was actually moved to a safe-house in Argentina.

FINAL HOUR 12/29/06

While I can see why some folks might not feel utter glee about the execution of a fellow "human being", even Saddam (me included), a sampling of comments from the lefty sites suggest it's more than that, perhaps a preemptive political strike to negate any poll bumps that might come from this. It's a hugely symbolic act, not only to the Middle East but to America. It sets the stage for the next phase of whatever Bush might decide to do in the region.

Now then, think back to the demonization of Saddam during the Clinton years. It will be interesting to see how those same people react now.

MORE 12/29/06

As Yosemite Sam might say, "So long, sucker".

Now we get to see the real influence of thugs like Izzat al-Duri, Raghad Hussein and the other Ba'athists in exile on Iraq's 41 most-wanted.