Dead Man Hangin'

The verdict and punishment stands. Saddam lost the appeal of his sentence to be put to death by hanging in the next 30 days. I heard on the radio today that the hanging will be taped and may or may not be shown to the people of Iraq.

I think the hanging should be a public event. Were it not for the fact that former Baathists would have the opportunity to lob bombs into the crowd and bring a smile to the face of the convicted dictator, it would be appropriate.

Some will deny the fact that Saddam is dead, when the punishment is carried out. It will be the same people who thought the deaths of Saddam's sons was a hoax and the photos of the dead men doctored to suit the story. If the hanging was seen with thousands of eyes it would be useful.

If it is not to be a public event, I say show it on television. The explosion of homes with satellite dishes is affirmation of the freedoms enjoyed today in Iraq by the population - a free act that would have brought severe punishment in the reign of terror under Saddam.

Saddam wrote a farewell letter and it was released on the internet Wednesday. He calls on Iraqis to refrain from hating the coalition forces. "I call on you not to hate because hate does not leave space for a person to be fair and it makes you blind and closes all doors of thinking". The letter was on a website known as one of the Baath Party.

It's a shame all those thoughts about not hating didn't enter into his mental process as he killed off villages of Kurds and all the innocent men, women and children in Iraq. I don't for a minute think he suddenly has been enlightened or feels guilt for his actions. I think those reading it in his country will feel nothing but contempt and disgust. As it should be.

It should be noted that the same day Saddam's farewell letter was published a statement from the Baath Party, on the same website, called for retaliation against the U.S. if the death sentence is carried out. This group of former Saddam men now live and operate out of Yemen, it is believed.

Saddam boasted in his letter that "You should know that among the aggressors, there are people who support your struggle against the invaders, and some of them volunteered for the legal defense of prisoners", including himself. Nice of him to think to give a final shout-out to his buddy, Ramsay Clark.

An abundance of volunteers have come forward to do the hanging honors.

Have you seen the photos of John Kerry's trip to Iraq, among the military there? Seems no one wanted to sit with him for meals or work out with him, either. A press conference he called one afternoon drew absolutely no one but the reporter required to be there from the military so when Kerry showed up in his flight jacket, it is reported he simply turned around and left the spot.

What kind of reception did he expect? He just continues to reaffirm his beliefs of the ignorance of the people in uniform and his superiority. Why, it was just a botched joke, all you stupid people. The fact that he even attempted that type of joke using military personnel to attack the President speaks volumes.

Who's the stupid one, John Kerry? He should ask Teresa to buy him a clue.