Baath Party Threatens to Retaliate

[cal04]

Saddam Hussein's Baath Party threatened Wednesday to retaliate if the ousted Iraqi leader is executed, warning in an Internet posting it would target U.S. interests anywhere.

The statement appeared on a Web site known to represent the party, which was disbanded after U.S.-led forces overthrew Saddam in 2003. The site is believed to be run from Yemen, where several exiled Baathists are based.

(snip)
"The American administration will be held responsible for any harm inflicted on the president because the United States is the decision-maker (in Iraq) and not the puppet Iraqi government."

The statement said that if the execution takes place, it would be impossible for the Baath to take part in any prospective negotiations with U.S. and Iraqi officials to reduce the violence in Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061227/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saddam_verdict_1

[maddezmom]

1. Some Iraqis fear Saddam execution would fuel violence

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061227/wl_nm/iraq_saddam_reaction_dc

[acmavm]

2. This cannot turn out well no matter what happens. The execute

him, all hell breaks loose. They don't exectute him and the Shi'ites get pissed, all hell breaks loose.

[Javaman]

3. Moron* is just so good at pouring gas on a raging inferno...

Invading Iraq was the first gigantic mistake.

Second was trying Saddam in Iraq before a kangaroo court.

There is certainly two things that is consistent with moron*, he's wrong about everything and fucks up everything he* touches.

[saigon68]

4. This is the Judge-- No Jury

[maxsolomon]

5. are they implying they HAVEN'T been retaliating to this point?

quick, kill him before he's elected presidnet of Sunnitrianglestan.

what a clusterfuck.

[wakeme2008]

6. We could be looking at 4,000 dead real fast

:cry: :cry:

[Eugene]

7. Reuters: Facing gallows, Saddam offers "sacrifice" for Iraq

(Edited to lead with Reuters story)

Facing gallows, Saddam offers "sacrifice" for Iraq
27 Dec 2006 16:11:48 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

By Mariam Karouny and Claudia Parsons

BAGHDAD, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein, due to be hanged within 30 days,
said in a letter made public on Wednesday that his execution would be a
sacrifice for his country and called on Iraqis to unite and fight U.S. forces.

"Here I offer myself in sacrifice. If God almighty wishes, it (my soul) will take me
where he orders to be with the martyrs," Saddam said in the hand-written letter
obtained from his defence lawyers in Jordan after it was posted on a Web site.

"If my soul goes down this path (of martyrdom) it will face God in serenity."

The defence team said it was written shortly after Saddam was sentenced to
death in November for crimes against humanity. The Iraqi High Tribunal appeals
court upheld the sentence on Tuesday and said Saddam should be hanged within
30 days.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR748875.htm


From the Associated Press...

Saddam Letter Urges Iraqis Not to Hate


Wednesday December 27, 2006 4:46 PM

AP Photo BAG103

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein called on Iraqis not to hate the U.S.-led forces
that invaded Iraq in 2003 in a farewell letter posted on a Web site Wednesday, a day
after an appeals court upheld the former dictator's death sentence and ordered him
to be hanged within one month.

One of Saddam's attorneys, Issam Ghazzawi, confirmed to The Associated Press in Jordan
that the letter was authentic, saying it was written by Saddam on Nov. 5 - the day he
was convicted by an Iraqi tribunal for ordering the killings of scores of Shiite Muslims
in the city of Dujail in 1982.

"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 said.

Ghazzawi said the letter was released on Tuesday and published on Saddam's former Baath
Party's Web site on Wednesday.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6305574,00.html

[raysr]

8. He offered to go into exile,

but bloodthirsty * wanted a trophy kill. I don't feel any "safer" knowing Saddam is going to be hanged.