[lbo-talk] Nir Rosen on Saddam's execution

Michael Pollak mpollak at panix.com
Tue Jan 2 01:54:08 PST 2007


http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/452/Hijacking_Eid_and_Hanging_Saddam

Hijacking Eid and Hanging Saddam

Timing and Hostile Repartee Creates Further Division

By NIR ROSEN 12/31/2006 2:17 PM ET

Saddam Hussein became the first modern Arab dictator to die violently

since Egypt's Anwar Sadat in 1981. Saddam's hanging at the hands of

chubby Iraqi men wearing ski masks is likely to be perceived by many

as an American execution and as part of a trend of American missteps

contributing to sectarian tensions in Iraq and the region. The trial

of Saddam was viewed by detractors as an event stage-managed by the

Americans. According to Human Rights Watch, the Iraqi judges and

lawyers involved in prosecuting Saddam were ill prepared and relied on

their American advisers. American minders shut off the microphones and

ordered the translators to halt whenever they disapproved of what was

being said by the defendants.

The important Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha was due to begin over the

weekend. For Sunnis it began on Saturday the 30th of December. For

Shias it begins on Sunday the 31st. According to tradition in Mecca,

battles are suspended during the Hajj period so that pilgrims can

safely march to Mecca. This practice even predated Islam and Muslims

preserved this tradition, calling this period 'Al Ashur al Hurm,' or

the months of truce. By hanging Saddam on the Sunni Eid the Americans

and the Iraqi government were in effect saying that only the Shia Eid

had legitimacy. Sunnis were irate that Shia traditions were given

primacy (as they are more and more in Iraq these days) and that Shias

disrespected the tradition and killed Saddam on this day. Because the

Iraqi constitution itself prohibits executions from being carried out

on Eid, the Iraqi government had to officially declare that Eid did

not begin until Sunday the 31st. It was a striking decision, virtually

declaring that Iraq is now a Shia state. Eid al Adha is the festival

of the sacrifice of the sheep. Some may perceive it as the day Saddam

was sacrificed.

Saddam had been in American custody and was handed over to Iraqis just

before his execution. It is therefore hard to dismiss the perception

that the Americans could have waited, because in the end it is they

who have the final say over such events in Iraq. Iraqi officials have

consistently publicly complained that they have no authority and the

Americans control the Iraqi police and the Army. It is therefore

unusual that Iraqis would suddenly regain sovereignty for this

important event. For many Sunnis and Arabs in the region, this appears

to be one president ordering the death of another president. It was

possibly a message to Sunnis, a warning. The Americans often equated

Saddam with the Sunni resistance to the occupation. By killing Saddam

they were killing what they believed was the symbol of the Sunni

resistance, expecting them to realize their cause was hopeless. Sunnis

could perceive the execution, and its timing, as a message to them:

"We are killing you." But Saddam's death might now liberate the Sunni

resistance from association with Saddam and the Baathists. They can

now more plausibly claim that they are fighting for national

liberation and not out of support for the former regime as their

American and Iraqi government opponents have so often claimed. A lack

of a hood (victims normally do not have a choice to wear a hood) a

scarf to prevent rope burn for the soon to be distributed photo, a

hallmark of US "We Got Him" psyops tactics. Even the US plane that

flew him to his final resting spot seems to indicate US management.

The unofficial video of the execution, filmed on the mobile cell phone

of one of the officials present is sure to further inflame

sectarianism, because it is clearly a Shia execution. Men are heard

talking, one of them is called Ali. As the executioners argue over how

to best position the rope on his neck Saddam calls out to god, saying,

"ya Allah." Referring to Shias, one official says "those who pray for

Muhamad and the family of Muhamad have won!" Others triumphantly

respond in the Shia chant: "Our God prays for Muhamad and the family

of Muhamad." Others then add the part chanted by supporters of Muqtada

al Sadr: "And speed his (the Mahdi's) return! And damn his enemies!

And make his son victorious! Muqtada! Muqtada! Muqtada!"

Saddam then smiles and says something mocking about Muqtada. "Muqtada!

It is this..." but the rest is blocked by the voices of officials

saying "ila jahanam," or "go to Hell." Saddam looks down and says "Is

this your manhood...?" As the rope is put around Saddam's neck

somebody shouts "long live Muhamad Baqir al Sadr!" referring to an

important Shia cleric who founded the Dawa Party and was also

Muqtada's relative. Baqir al Sadr was executed by Saddam in 1980. He

is venerated by all three major Shia movements in Iraq, the Dawa, the

Sadrists and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Others insult Saddam. One man asks them to stop: "I beg you, I beg

you, the man is being executed!" Saddam then says the Shahada, or

testimony, that there is no god but Allah and Muhamad is his prophet.

When he tries to say it again the trap door opens and he falls through

to be hung. One man then shouts that "the tyranny has ended!" and

others call out triumphal Shia chants. Somebody wants to remove the

rope from his neck but is told to wait eight minutes.

The Sunni Islamo-nationalist website Islam Memo claimed that the

Safavids (Persians, meaning Shias) burned Saddam's Quran after they

killed him. They also said that Saddam exchanged insults with the

witnesses to his execution and cursed one of them, saying "God damn

you, Persian midget." The same website also claimed that Ayatolla Ali

Sistani blessed Saddam's execution and that the Iraqi government

refused to provide Saddam with a Sunni cleric to pray for him before

the execution. Finally, they asserted that Saddam said "Palestine is

Arab" and then recited the Muslim Shahada, testifying that there is no

god but Allah and Muhamad is his prophet, and then he was executed.

The website claimed that following his death Saddam's body was abused.

Although the Shia dominated Iraqi media claimed Saddam was terrified

prior to his execution and fought with his hangmen, Saddam's on screen

visage was one of aplomb, for he was conscious of the image he was

displaying and wanted to go down as the grand historic leader he

believed himself to be.

Rest at: http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/452/Hijacking_Eid_and_Hanging_Saddam

Juan Cole, who linked to this, added the short gloss:

<quote>

Cindy Sheehan's son died fighting the Mahdi Army; Bush delivered Saddam into the hands of MA's political wing.

<end quote>

Michael



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