Adding insult to injury, correspondent Richard Engel so editorialized on the final “Nightly News” of 2006 (video available here):
It was a major public relations blow for the US administration and the Iraqi government which have been trying to show the world that Saddam Hussein received impartial justice. Now with this brief video, that's being called into question as today Saddam was laid to rest.
At the site of Saddam’s burial, Engel chose to first interview a grieving Hussein loyalist even though Iraq is dominated by Shia Muslims who passionately despise the former dictator: “‘He was a born leader who fought and died a martyr,' said one man.” Next, Engel raised further questions about the nature of the justice applied: “But more were surprised by the execution's clear sectarian overtones. Witnesses taunted Saddam, shouting the name of the Shiite militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.” Engel gave one final blow to the governments of America and Iraq: “Already tonight, John, Muqtada al-Sadr supporters are claiming that they, not the Iraqi government, executed Saddam Hussein.”
Happy New Year to you, too, Richard. What follows is a full transcript of this segment.
JOHN SEIGENTHALER, anchor:
We turn now to the execution of Saddam Hussein. As his body was buried today in Iraq, there was talk of the cell phone video that captured Saddam's final conversation before he was hanged. NBC's Richard Engel joins us tonight from Baghdad with more on that.
Good evening, Richard.
RICHARD ENGEL reporting:
Good evening, John.
It was a major public relations blow for the US administration and the Iraqi government which have been trying to show the world that Saddam Hussein received impartial justice. Now with this brief video, that's being called into question as today Saddam was laid to rest.
Saddam's body arrived in an unmarked wooden coffin in the back of a police pickup. Saddam's tribesmen identified the remains. There was none of the pomp familiar to the tyrant who lived in palaces, erected giant effigies of himself and enforced celebrations of his birthday. Instead, Saddam returned to the village where he was born in poverty and was buried with little more than a common funeral. His final resting place a cement encased tomb covered in dirt, marked by a small headstone, just two miles from the graves of his sons killed by US troops in 2003. Some of Saddam's mourners cried and kissed the grave.
Unidentified Man #1: (Foreign language spoken)
ENGEL: `He was a born leader who fought and died a martyr,' said one man. But across the country, most Iraqis celebrated a Muslim holiday in parks and playgrounds. Iraqis also packed Internet cafes to download the voyeuristic cell phone video of Saddam's hanging.
Unidentified Man #2: (Foreign language spoken)
ENGEL: `I was surprised,' he said, `I thought maybe the Americans would set him free.' But more were surprised by the execution's clear sectarian overtones. Witnesses taunted Saddam, shouting the name of the Shiite militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
Mr. ABDEL BARI ATWAN (Editor, Al-Quds Al-Arabi Newspaper): This sectarian militia managed to penetrate the Iraqi security forces. This was interpreted by more than a billion Sunni all over the world that it was actually a revenge.
(Beginning of clip from video)
Mr. SADDAM HUSSEIN: Oh, God.
Unidentified Witness: May God pray to Mohammed.
Unidentified Witness #2: Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada!
Mr. HUSSEIN: Muqtada? Is this courage?
Witness #2: Go to hell!
Unidentified Judge: Please don't, the man is facing execution, please don't.
Mr. HUSSEIN: There is no God but God, and Mohammed is His messenger.
(End of clip)
ENGEL: Saddam's last word was "Mohammed." As the trap door opened, witnesses cheered as Saddam dropped to his death.
Already tonight, John, Muqtada al-Sadr supporters are claiming that they, not the Iraqi government, executed Saddam Hussein. John.
SEIGENTHALER: Richard, as you know, we've been reporting on the 3,000 Americans now dead in Iraq, and we're going to soon hear from the president on a possible change of course. What are you hearing from military leaders on the ground there?
ENGEL: Commanders say that of course they could use more troops. That if more American soldiers and Marines arrive, they'll find work for them. But what they say what they really want are more Iraqi forces. They stress that '07 is supposed to be the year of transition where American troops hand over more responsibility to the Iraqi security forces. They say they don't want to increase the impression that the American occupation in Iraq is expanding. They want it to be this year for Iraq. John:
SEIGENTHALER: NBC's Richard Engel in Baghdad. Richard, thank you.
