The Iraq War

Saddam Hussein’s execution took place on December 30, 2006 at the hands of Iraqi executioners.  According to the US Army website and other media sources, Saddam received a fair trial unlike his numerous victims.  Though many Iraqis celebrated after Saddam Hussein’s execution, the Iraq government braced itself for retaliation from Saddam loyalists.

The Iraq War would not end with Saddam’s execution.  There are many who are unclear about the crimes for which the dictator was executed.  Some believe that Saddam’s execution was an act of retaliation from the Americans for the Iraq War.  However, Saddam was convicted and sentenced by an Iraqi court.

Those outside of Iraq may easily misinterpret the sentencing and death of the Iraq leader as an act of war.  The reaction of the Iraqi people should make it evident that the execution of the dictator was for his acts of violence against the Iraqi people.  After the execution, the Iraqi television station played national songs of Iraq and a statement that said, “Saddam’s execution marks the end of a dark period of Iraq’s history.”

The crime for which Saddam was convicted and sentenced to death was the murder of 148 Shiite Muslims in 1982.  These victims were from a town where some residents had plotted to assassinate the dictator.  Saddam appealed the conviction, but the higher court upheld the original ruling and sentence.

Other charges also had been filed against the tyrant.  He was being tried for genocide and his responsibility for the death of 180,000 Kurds in Northern Iraq that resulted from a military crackdown in the late 1980′s.  Saddam had used murder and executions to suppress those who challenged him politically.  He also used chemical weapons against Kurds in Iraq.

While Saddam claimed to be a martyr for the sake of the Iraqi people, many Iraqi people considered his death to be a blessing.  One mosque preacher said that Saddam’s execution is God’s gift to Iraqis.  The Iraqi people celebrated by shooting guns in the air following the news of Saddam’s death.

Other leaders who were in power in Saddam’s regime were tried by the Iraqi High Tribunal Court as well.  This court was established for the trials of the government officials who were accused of crimes committed under Saddam’s rule.  Saddam’s half-brother and the former chief judge also were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.  They were executed following Saddam’s hanging.

There are those who would like to blame the United States for Saddam’s execution.  People who have remained loyal to Saddam might say that the execution was due to the Iraq War.  Saddam Hussein’s execution was not related to the Iraq War but rather to the many murderous acts imposed on the Iraqi people under Saddam’s leadership.