This morning's "Today" show characterized the execution of Saddam Hussein with a multiplicity of negative terms. According to NBC reporter Richard Engel, reporting from Baghdad:
"The Iraqi government is now going to great lengths to say that this execution was carried out with the utmost respect for human rights; that it was a very organized, precise event. However, interviews that we've conducted with witnesses, judges and other people who attended and followed all the proceedings say it was much more emotional and chaotic."
Continued Engel: "The execution was primitive and vindictive. "
Engel stated that the site of the execution was one of Saddam's most notorious intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, where Shia radicals were executed, "Shia from the same party now leading the Iraqi government." As video of Prime Minister Maliki, a Shia, flashed on the screen, Engel concluded: "today was their revenge."
View video of Engel here.
Host Lester Holt then interviewed NBC consultant retired Lt. Col Rick Francona, who began by unwittingly refuting Engel's claim that the execution was "primitive." Francona noted that the gallows were newly-constructed in the western "drop" style, causing instantaneous death, in contrast with the traditional "hoist" method employed in the Middle East causing a slower death by asphyxiation.
But Francona then claimed that the execution would be viewed as vindictive and that "the timing is now suspect." He pointed out that others had been sentenced to death with Saddam but that he had been the only one executed yesterday, prior to the Muslim holiday. Asked Francona: "So what was the rush to judgment?" Note: according to Captain's Quarters: "the Iraqi government executed Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad al-Bandar after hanging Saddam. The three were sentenced to death together, and they have now been put to death at essentially the same time." (H/T FReeper Bahbah)
Francona actually went on to answer his own question: "I think everybody was concerned that this tension was building. It was getting worse ever since the appeal was denied. So they wanted to get this over with."
View video of Francona here.
Makes sense. And that being so, in what sense was the timing "suspect" and "a rush to judgment"?
Finkelstein was in Iraq last month. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Blame Bush, blame Bush, bla
December 30, 2006 - 09:29 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsBlame Bush, blame Bush, blame Bush. Never do the MSM describe Hussein (or Osama) with 'vindictive, primitive,vengeful, suspect'. All we hear from our leftist brethren is Bush bad, allies bad, WOT bad. Yes, our troops took down and caught Hussein, but it was the Iraqi peoples who tried, convicted and executed him. If the Iraqis had said 'life in prison', the Bush administration would have had no problem with that. A sovereign nation carried out the sentence delivered by it's own court. A mass murderer is dead. End of story.
P.S. A complete aside here, anyone else notice the advert for olbermann on this very page? Think he'll get many viewers from NB?
DSG
Interesting, the MSM always a
December 30, 2006 - 09:34 ET by Chris NormanInteresting, the MSM always admonishes us to "respect" other countries practices and politics. However, it looks like they would have had Iraq handle the Saddam Hussein case as we do here - years in prison, endless appeals, and perhaps an eventual pardon...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Perhaps they'd have had us lo
December 30, 2006 - 14:04 ET by BlondePerhaps they'd have had us lock Saddam up someplace like Spandau prison, a la Speer and Hess....for years and years and years.
And then, of course, the MsM would praise Saddam as they've praised and elevated Castro to dictator hero status.
Disgusting.
I'm glad it's done with.
But Francona then claimed tha
December 30, 2006 - 09:44 ET by VirindiscreenwriterSeriously, do reporters even BOTHER to get the facts anymore? It's been reported that Saddam was executed along with his half-brother and the head of his courts [so one of these news sources is wrong].
And RUSH TO JUDGMENT? Had this person bothered to take note of what was going on in Iraq, it'd be clear that Saddam had a lengthy trial.
At best, the Mass National Media is utterly incompetent: at worst, it's in its own little world.
"...And you yourself are a killer of children! Well, of course it's not true. But the world only believes what the media tells them to believe, and I tell the media what to believe. It's really quite simple." -Kane, 'Command and Conquer'
Well, rush to judgment precludes justice, a Liberal favorite wor
December 30, 2006 - 09:44 ET by acaiguanaWell, rush to judgment precludes justice, a Liberal favorite word, huh?
I didn't see any rush in the trial. That was what produced the judgment, not the hanging. The Liberals lost a real allay in Saddam. I'm sure they will put him up there with Che and Castro.
Let's see, I'm trying to get all this right.
Saddam started a war with Iraq that had battles with over 100,000 casualties and several millions dead before it was over.
Saddam wiped out entire villages.
Saddam's sons ran around killing people like they were private property on their Estates.
Saddam had no problem using Weapons of Mass Destruction against his own people.
He was a hell of a guy. Maybe he and Hitler share a bunk now. Probably not, they would surely feel more comfortable together and Hell isn't designed for that idea.
The MSM take that 'America' killed this guy is so last year.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Ya can't win if ya don't play."
...so absolutley predictable
December 30, 2006 - 12:08 ET by TruthMonger...so absolutley predictable by now...if we had today's MSM back during WW2 we'd all be speaking German today and celebrating Hitler's birthday as a national holiday : ) !
Three years is not a rush t
December 30, 2006 - 09:46 ET by Right2thePointThree years is not a rush to judgement.
Anything by this reporter should be discounted in the future.
I hope he has a day job.
The whole term, 'rush to judgment' is an editorial opinion.
December 30, 2006 - 09:58 ET by acaiguanaThe whole term, 'rush to judgment' is an editorial opinion.
It's not reporting.
Reporting is:
"Saddam was executed today in Baghdad." QED.
Not, 'Rush to Judgment'.
This guy is not a reporter, he is a propagandist. That is what the Liberals call a reporter. I think people are figuring that out - but it is a little too late for November.
Which city is next?
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Ya can't win if ya don't play."
ac, Engel has said that he's
December 30, 2006 - 10:01 ET by Chris Normanac,
Engel has said that he's a "pacifist" - and we know just what that entails...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
My bad, I didn't know he was French.
December 30, 2006 - 10:07 ET by acaiguanaMy bad, I didn't know he was French.
Anyway, he can be a Moonie as far as I'm concerned. If I hire a welder I don't ask him if he believes in Space Ships. I ask him if he can weld.
If I wanted opinions I could call any of my ex-wives. They seem to be able to offer an opinion about anything I think.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
ac,Wasn't trying to excuse hi
December 30, 2006 - 10:14 ET by Chris Normanac,
Wasn't trying to excuse his injection of his opinions at all. Just wanted to point out that he has openly admitted his personal beliefs - which tend to color his reports. When a "journalist" does that, he should be immediately be withdrawn from service. Give me reporters - spare me from "journalists"...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
That'd be a great new tagline for ya.
December 30, 2006 - 10:18 ET by acaiguanaThat'd be a great new tagline for ya.
Give me reporters - spare me from "journalists"...
:-)
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Hey, that was pretty good, hu
December 30, 2006 - 10:23 ET by Chris NormanHey, that was pretty good, huh? Not too shabby a line written before my jump start of caffeine for the day. Unfortunately, I've probably peaked early - it's all down hill from here...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
The execution of Hussein was
December 30, 2006 - 09:53 ET by donsalesThe execution of Hussein was not "vindictive" and a "rush to justice" as reported by Richard Engel of NBC in Baghdad.....
Baghdad Dick.....a cousin of Tokyo Rose....
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
liberals
December 30, 2006 - 11:01 ET by iveseenitallLiberals are seriously ill people. Had Hitler been caught, they would have wanted to "rehabilitate" him. Moreover, what becomes increasingly obvious is that until more citizens realize what these leftists are doing, we will continue a downhill slide. With Fox in the lead, there has got to be more reasonable reporting of the news. Expose the MSM for the anti-Americans they are. It is beyond me why let this go on without sufficient response.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
burr-ka-boy
December 30, 2006 - 11:07 ET by foolnomorethese people are so detached from reality,they only read what's on the screen in front of them,they wouldn't take a ride where evil lives, or may-be the limo's aren't all-way drive ,Mmmm,,, maybe they too, may get stuck in Iraq,,
I like the background drop picture for this guy.
December 30, 2006 - 11:09 ET by acaiguanaI like the background drop picture for this guy.
It's posed to give the false impression that he leaves the Green Zone with the city in the background.
They have no shame.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
A vindictive rush to judgment would be...
December 30, 2006 - 11:23 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasA vindictive rush to judgment would be more like Islamo-fascist terrorists seeing Richard Engel, an anglo-white male who speaks clear English and appears quite American and deciding he is a capalist pig American and cutting his head off...that would be a primitive and vindictive rush to judgment. What happened to Saddam was over 3 years. I'm just saying. ; )
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
...so absolutley predictable
December 30, 2006 - 12:05 ET by TruthMonger...
Vindictive
December 30, 2006 - 12:23 ET by iveseenitall"Vindictive", "Primitive", "Revenge"," Suspect", "Rush to Judgment". Sounds like the Iraqi executioners are modern day liberals.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Hmmm. Shades of Mike Nifong,
December 30, 2006 - 12:49 ET by Chris NormanHmmm. Shades of Mike Nifong, maybe?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
No doubt, he left this mort
December 30, 2006 - 13:47 ET by RackieNo doubt, he left this mortal coil at breakneck speed.
I couldn't believe they used
December 30, 2006 - 19:34 ET by kathleenirishI couldn't believe they used the words, "revenge" and "vindictive" to describe this proceeding. Not appropriate at all. The loser media will even try to make the mass-murdering Saddam a victim. Yet, they give no support or credibility to the democratically-elected government in Iraq. Remember CNN and the slimy way they deliberated misreported the news from Iraq? What's the excuse now, idiots? They will say or do anything that will show Bush and the US in an unflattering light, even to the lengths of using extremely biased language like 'revenge' PLEASE, spare us! What crappy reporting by NBC this morning. I nearly choked on my tea as I watched this totally absurd and biased piece of garbage reporting. I usually avoid direct contact with the networks and I should try to follow my own advice.
"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere" -Ali ibn-Abi-Talib, 4th Islamic Caliph
just rating's
December 30, 2006 - 20:52 ET by foolnomorethe puppet master pulls the strings and they jump an dance their treasonist song's ,they think doing the bidding in this way they wouldn't be collected up an be put in a burr-ka or worst ,they are so blinded in their ways it 's sin-ful ..
I wish I could get his take o
December 31, 2006 - 03:12 ET by UnsaneI wish I could get his take on the Ceaucescus getting whacked at 5 pm local on Christmas Day, 1989. (A great Christmas present for the Romanian people, if you ask me.)
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Continued Engel: "The ex
December 31, 2006 - 03:48 ET by GalvanicContinued Engel: "The execution was primitive and vindictive. "
Not unlike the regime of the man executed. Welcome to justice in the Middle East, Mr. Engel.