Saddam executed by Mexican wrestlers

Or maybe he was the victim of a house invasion. Personally, I think it would have been more effective – not to mention more historically and symbolically apt – for his executioners to have worn masks depicting former U.S. presidents, the way bank robbers sometimes do.

The big story in all this is how, immediately after the execution, millions of Iraqis tortured, gassed, and assassinated under Saddam's brutal rule magically came back to life, and peace and prosperity instantly came to that troubled country.

Of course, there are always a few grumblers who think hanging the man won't change jackshit.

Irony, which keeps refusing to die, also found itself on the gallows yesterday. From the Toronto Star:

Saddam remained in U.S. custody until he was turned over, at the very last, to the Iraqis.

Al-Nueimi said yesterday U.S. authorities were maintaining physical custody of Saddam to prevent him from being humiliated before his execution, and because the Americans also want to prevent the mutilation of his corpse, as has happened to other deposed Iraqi leaders.

"The Americans want him to be hanged respectfully," said al-Nueimi, noting any ill-treatment of his corpse "could cause an uprising, and the Americans would be blamed."

Those poor Americans can't catch a break, can they? I especially like their sudden concern for optics when it comes to humiliation and torture.


[UPDATE: check out this video retrospective on Saddam's "special" relationship with the U.S.]

[UPDATE II: also, please read this post from Glenn Greenwald on the illegality of Saddam's execution.]