The Anchoress
I would have illustrated this with a photo of it, but I can’t find any. Apparently the Iraqi-American community is dancing in Dearborn. UPDATE: Clarity and Resolve has found a picture. CNN links to video here.
Dave Alwatan wore an Iraqi flag around his shoulders and flashed a peace sign to everyone he passed at the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center in this suburb of Detroit, a city that has one of the nation’s largest concentrations of people with roots in the Middle East.
“Peace,” he said, grinning and laughing. “Now there will be peace for my family.”
Alwatan, 32, said Saddam’s forces tortured and killed relatives that were left behind when Alwatan left
Iraq in 1991.
Quote from President Bush: “It is a testament to the Iraqi people’s resolve to move forward after decades of oppression that, despite his terrible crimes against his own people, Saddam Hussein received a fair trial. It is an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself.”
I’d say that’s probably correct. This something Iraq has done on its own, before the world, and it emphasizes their fledgling sovereignty. It might – might – help them.
Sensible Mom notes that CBS, which did not cut into programming to mark the death of Gerald Ford, did manage to do so for Saddam’s death. One wonders if Harry Reid, also disinterested in the death of a former GOP president, will comment on Saddam’s death.
Radio Equalizer has the reaction from the Bush-obsessed on the left. They’re thinking a sovereign nation like Iraq (or the US) has no business charting its own course and should have remanded Hussein to the International Criminal Court. Right. The Bush-obsessed – who cannot process any information at all except through the prism of their BDS, are foaming over all this. There line – essentially – goes like this: “Well, yeah, okay, Hussein was bad but he should have been tried by the International Court – not his own countrymen – and Bush, who is AT LEAST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE than poor old Saddam, should be hanging with him.”
Alrighty, then. As I said earlier, one wonders what their reaction would be if only a president Clinton or Gore or Kerry were the president behind Saddam’s capture, trial and sentencing. I think there’s a good bet they’d be talking about a nation’s right to its own laws…and how just it all is. If this does not demonstrate how utterly owned they are by their own hate, I wonder what will.
Just think, if only President Clinton had gone after Saddam back when he tried to assassinate Bush 41 – had he responded decisively to that clear act of war – the world might be an incredibly different place right now. Ah, well.
Gay Patriot notes that some on the left are – predictably – calling for the execution of George W. Bush.
Ed Driscoll has a terrific round-up of not-seen everywhere links.
Confederate Yankee has more from the Bush-obsessed and also notes that he’s been more accurate than the MSM regarding the timing of when it went down. Scroll down.
Jules Crittenden has reactions from left and right.
Hot Air has a fine round-up, the “quote of the year,” and collection of stories. As does The Moderate Voice.
Tammy Bruce links to a scathing obit for Saddam from The Times of London. They still manage to bash Bush, but they’re not crying for Saddam.
Gateway Pundit has updates and a stirring visual recap with lots of pics, remembrances and recaps. Less graphic than Flopping Aces’ live thread, which is not for everyone. Curt finishes off with some interesting video from CNN.
PJM’s Editor in Seattle notes that for a lameduck President Bush dominated the 2006 news in one way or another – even into its last days. They’ve also got a running roundup on all this.
And now the blogs, left and right, watch each other respond.
An emailer wrote to say that Anderson Cooper has been impressive – repeatedly stating that Saddam was a tyrant and that the Iraqi people would not be free of him were it not for coalition troops. “He seems to understand how big this is, that’s it’s bigger than hating Bush.” Well, that’s something, I guess.
More Blogs:
Michelle Malkin.
Wizbang
Hang Right Politics
Patterico
Gina Cobb
Rhymes with Right
All Things Beautiful
The Wide Awake Cafe
Ace of Spades
e-claire
Dr. Sanity
Mudville Gazette
In From the Cold
Cathouse Chat
Ace
Press links:
It’s About Time Justice Came Down”
Iraqi-Americans Celebrate Saddam’s Death
Saddam’s Record of Infamy Ends
The Defiant Despot who Oppressed Iraq for over Thirty Years
A Thug who used Terror and War to stay in power
Dictator who ruled Iraq with Violence is Hanged for Crimes Against Humanity
Iraqis gather to witness execution
“Now there is peace; Saddam is dead”
Saddam’s daughter wants him buried in Yemen
President Bush’s statement
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