Did Sadr hang Saddam?

[Say_What]

<clips>

The room was quiet as everyone began to pray, including Mr. Hussein.
“Peace be upon Mohammed and his holy family.”

Two guards added, “Supporting his son Moktada, Moktada, Moktada.”

Mr. Hussein seemed a bit stunned, swinging his head in their direction.

They were talking about Moktada al-Sadr, the firebrand cleric whose militia is now committing some of the worst violence in the sectarian fighting; he is the son of a revered Shiite cleric, Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, whom many believe Mr. Hussein ordered to be murdered.

“Moktada?” he spat out, mixing sarcasm and disbelief.

As the noose was tightened around Hussein's neck, one of the executioners yelled, "long live Muqtada al-Sadr," Haddad said.

Hussein mockingly uttered one last phrase before he died: "Muqtada al-Sadr," according to Haddad.

According to the Kurdish newspaper Netkurd there is a possibility that Sadr hanged Saddam. This might explain why the "guards" were shouting "Muqtada" and why Saddam's last words were "Muqtada al-Sadr".

Saddam's lawyer claimed that Shiite leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim and Muqtada al-Sadr were present at the execution. The lawyers of Saddam say they will sue the Iraqi government at the International Court of Justice over abuses by executioners during and after execution.

More photo's and information can be found on the website Uruknet.

http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=13858

[LiberalinNC]

1. Unfortunately, doesn't surprise me if this is true...

Any "bad" news/events happening in Iraq don't surprise me anymore.

[Say_What]

3. Doesn't surprise me either and a friend sent this translated from Arabic piece..

----------------------
M..... said the story with the Moqtada picture says
there was a deal done to allow him to attend the
execution in exchange for his political cooperation in
the government and for the disbanding of his militia.
It mentions this in connection with the U.S. plans to
add troops. None of this is sourced.

BTW, evidently Al Jazeera Arabic was reporting that
the guards at the execution were infiltrated by
Moqtada's militia -- that's the first time I've heard
anyone name the group involved.
--------------------

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

2. Remember Fallujah. n/t

[Gman]

4. This was posted on the non-English Al-Jazeera last week

one day. I never found it on the English version. Al-Jazeera also had pictures of a pinky ring very similar to one Al-Sadr wears that was on the hand of one of the executioners.

You can't tell from the pics I've seen if the guy was roly-poly like Al-Sadr.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Saddam's last words were NOT Muqtada al-Sadr

That was based on the false report of Hadid before the video came out. Saddam's last word was Mohammed, as he was reciting a Muslim prayer when the trapdoor opened.

This so-called "news report" is ridiculous. Anyone who can take seriously the following piece of reporting is an imbecile:

According to the Kurdish newspaper Netkurd there is a possibility that Sadr hanged Saddam.

That literally means nothing. It is the journalistic equivalent of "I heard from a guy that maybe..."

Bullshit story from a dubious source.

[POAS]

6. A gift to Sadr from Bush?

[Scout1071]

7. No, this was totally out of Bush's control. This was all Shiite control.

Period. Al-Sadr and the Shiites personally hanging Saddam. Makes total sense and proves they have complete control of the puppet government.

[Scout1071]

8. Here is a Daily Kos diary on the subject, with pics:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/6/193855/6936

[Say_What]

9. Counterterrorism Blog: Did Moqtada Al Sadr take part in the actual hanging of Saddam Hussein?

<clips>

According to the Saudi daily Al Riyad, citing a witness to the execution of Hussein, one of the masked men was indeed Moqtada Al Sadr. Knowing that Saddam Hussein had Moqtada's father killed, this would not be surprising. In fact the son would want to take part in taking revenge. But if this turns out to be true, this would be another major faux pas for Iraqi authorities.

In fact Moqtada's militia has not only targeted coalition troops but also Sunnis, including mostly civilians. This event could further the gap between Sunnis and Shias around the world especially in Iraq, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Incidentally a famous Saudi ulema (high religious personality) Sheikh Abdelrahman Al Barak just issued a fatwa calling Shias "kuffars" (infidels) and Shiism "the worst religion". He added that Sunnism and Shiism are two irreconcilable religions". In light of rumors of Saudi involvement in helping their Sunni brothers in Iraq, these latest events should be taken quite seriously.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/01/did_moqtada_al_sadr_take_part.php