Dutch lawyer for International Law: Geert Jan Knoops was on Saddam's defence team.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

this execution benefits no one. (maybe Bush right now, but this'll haunt him just as "Mission Accomplished" and "Bring 'em On" has).

Saddam should have been tried for all the crimes first. At least that would have given the illusion of justice to all the aggrieved people. Executing him following the first show trial makes the prosecutors-both US and Iraqi-look cowardly.

[snip]

An adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saddam would be executed before 6 a.m. Saturday, or 10 p.m. Friday EST. Also to be hanged at that time were Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, the adviser said.

The time was agreed upon during a meeting Friday between U.S. and Iraqi officials, said the adviser, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

"Saddam will be handed over shortly before the execution," the official said. The physical transfer of Saddam from U.S. to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he was to be hanged. Saddam has been in U.S. custody since he was captured in December 2003.

Al-Nueimi said U.S. authorities were maintaining physical custody of Saddam to prevent him from being humiliated before his execution. He said 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," al-Nueimi said. If Saddam is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated "that could cause an uprising and the Americans would be blamed," he said.

[snip]

AP report

ah yes...a respectful hanging...only BushCo™ would make such a statement.

There will no doubt be serious blow-back from this sorry episode.

the revolution will not be televised...Peace