Here’s to kissing 2006 goodbye. Let’s not miss it or forget to remember it. After all, history cannot pass judgment on its domain, contrary to popular belief.
Symbols leave there mark. Imagery and circumstance is what defines the times. Therefore, while little reason remained for anyone in the world to appreciate Saddam Hussein, one (of 1 billion or so Muslims worldwide) might find it insulting to lynch a former head of state on the eve of a major Muslim holiday.
Eid ul-Adha. A Muslim holiday celebrating Abraham’s sacrifice of Ishmael to God. You’d think a so-called “born again” Christian could respect this, but then again, George W. himself might regret being considered within his family the expendable son to brother Jeb’s Isaac. The symbolism is just sickening. If he so wishes to be judged by history — let him at least BE history.
This is also a message for any hopeful candidates out there who wish to join Jalal Talabani and Hamid Karzai as U.S. approved temporary leaders for GWoT countries. We created Saddam too. And then hanged him.
As the death toll in the War on Terror since the war began in Iraq in March 2003 likely breaks 3,000 today, here’s a dramatic image reflecting Bush’s impression throughout the world of conflict.
A Kashmiri protester shouts slogans behind a fire from an effigy of U. S. President George W. Bush against the execution Saturday of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein , in Jammu December 31, 2006. (Amit Gupta/Reuters)
UPDATE: Marc Lynch posts reactions to the timing of the execution with Eid.
Anger over the timing has probably overwhelmed any other sentiment (with “it doesn’t change anything, Iraq is still a mess” coming a close second).
