Saddam Hussain. Hero or villain?
917694
I don't think he fits either category.  However, it's plain that he had the recipe for keeping Iraq's fractured, divided peoples under control.  650,000 dead Iraqis later, we still don't have the country under control, and not much chance of ever achieving control.  It's ironic that he has been tried and convicted for killing Iraqis, with the huge number of Iraqi deaths that have occured since he was removed from power.\n\nGiven the response to the verdict today, clearly the reactions are falling along the predicted sectarian lines.  To some he's a villlian; to others a hero, and soon, a martyr.
883979
There are lots of bad dictators in the world. Why USA is picking on Saddam? USA built him up and made him bad. USA saved Saddam's butt in the past from many assassinations. They gave him all the weapons and chemicals to defend himself from the  Shiites rebel. Now because we need his oil, so Saddam is no good? What about Sudan's President Al-Bashir, who is killing innocent people left and right in Darfur? What about Libya's president, Qaddafi the horrible dictator? What about Egypt's president,  Mr. Mubarak, the bad dictator? What about Syria's President, Mr. Al-Assad, who killing and jailing his opponents every day? What about Saudi Arabia King and Sheiks, who hate Christians and oppressing everyone out of the country? Can I keep on and on? Therefore, Saddam's death will only make Sunnies and some shiites angry and creates more turmoil. Do not listen to Bush...he is full of crap.
697517
I could care less if you overlook my reply and do not count me (ohhhh, I am so scared!). If you do not want replies from this site then post on the middle east version of this site.\n\nFirst off, could you please spell that person's name correctly. It is SADDAM HUSSEIN, not Saddan. Duh!\n\nHe was found guilty of crimes by his countrymen, in an Iraqi court of law.\n\nHang 'em and hang 'em high!
958769
Saddam had nothing whatsoever to do with 9/11. Nothing. And no he was not a good man. But then, how many 'good men' are running countries all over the world anyway. Unfortunately for the people of Iraq, Saddam's actions were a part of the culture. There is NO connection except that the Bush administration used 9/11, AlQuaeda, Osama, and Saddam?? as an excuse to visit havoc upon that country. In addiiton to which, in now uncovered (Freedom of Information) documents, the US had been looking for an excuse to invade, to remove Saddam and take over Iraq's oil reserves since Bush Sr. If the people of the UInited States had read, listened and demanded more, everyone would have been aware of this plan; and that includes our sorry representation in the House and Senate.\nSo Saddam has been sentenced to be hanged. So what.!!There's an appeal process which will likely keep him alive for at least another year. Actually not many people in the US give a rats azz about Saddam anyway.  They are more concerned with our troops and why the heck they are there anyway. Even the troops are beginning to ask questions. Those that is, who haven't been brainwashed.\nThe republicans will win or lose based upon what the voters want. Actually I am not too hopped up on voting anyway. If the Dems win, all I can say is that I hope they win by LARGE margins. If not, the Repubs will do everything in their power to keep the races OPEN ....
1075423
A little of both.  A hero when he lead his people to control of their own country in his younger days.  But as happens frequently around the world....power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
276180
Some people still like hitler but that does not make him a hero.\nMilosevith case is same.
397001
I think Saddam was a cruel pig, but the day to day life of the typical Iraqi was definitely better before the US got involved.\n\nWith Saddam, Iraqis had water and power, no suicide bombings, and no insurgency.\n\n----------------------------\nPS - Many people forget that it was the US that put Saddam in power to begin with in the 1960's. It was also the US that supported Saddam's use of WMD's when he was fighting against Iran. Brutal dictator? Definitely, but the blood is also on our hands.
126177
Some people in america do call hitler a hero and some people in the muslim world would call muhammed a hero, the fact is they were both criminals in there own way and time who manage to decive a great many poeple to follow them and believe in what they said. If you allow people the freedom to follow sexual deviants like Hitler and muhammed then you will have the results like we have today. Violence towards our fellow man. In the end it will all end badly as we continue down this path of hatred to each other.
359309
I had friends in college who were part of the Iraqi Royal Family.  All of the family members I met were wonderful people.  \n\nIt is the zealots and those like Hussein who have ruined the image of the Iraqi people for most of the world.
916961
Yes absolutely, he ordered hundreds of thousands of Kurds to be gassed to death. He was sadisitic and had two awful sons who would rape and torture at will. My only concern is that hanging Saddam will just inflame the situation in Iraq as it will make him a martyr and will annoy his followers
564783
Homicidal dicatator? Surely you're not talking about Saddamn Hussein? Don't you remember that Christmas after he invaded, excuse me, visited Kuwaitt with his military? He hung out with the British hostage, excuse me, detainee families? There was that sweet little picture of him with the young boy on his lap. What a happy little face on that child.\n\nI don't know about you, but that's the Saddamn that we libs remember. Maybe if H.W. hadn't started pushing him around in the first place, and then humilated him in that Gulf War, he would have let the weapons inspectors in like he was supposed to and none of W's war would have happened.\n\nHomicidal dictator, indeed!
1131933
In an effort to make it look as if he was actually accomplishing something after the 9/11 attacks.  If we all remember correctly it was not Saddam Hussein who was instrumental in those attacks, but rather Osama bin Laden.  here we are 4.5 years into this and still no bin Laden.  All the emphasis is on Iraq.  When did Iraq came into this picture?  It's the classic bait and switch tactic used by so many con men prior to Bush.
19953
Not at all. First, Saddam had a strongly secular government. He cracked down on militant Muslims within his own country, why would he support bin-Laden? Second, all the evidence points to is that members of al-Qaeda met with members of the Iraqi government. Even the source below, highly biased towards the right, doesn't argue that anything any more concrete happened. I wouldn't call that "strong links." That'd be like saying we have "strong links" with China because our administration has met with them many times over the past decade.
834975
Wow.  What do we need Sean Hannity for?  You liberals make fools of yourselves all on your own.  You feel SORRY for Saddam Hussein?  SADDAM HUSSEIN?  The heartless dictator?  Need I remind you of the thousands of innocent lives lost under Saddam's power?  HE KILLED HIS OWN PEOPLE.  He raided Kurdish villages with chemical weapons, killing both soldiers and townspeople, including women and CHILDREN.  And you feel sorry for him?  Because he's a "secularist" and he respected the rights of women?  First of all, secularism is not exactly a universally-renowned form of government.  Just because YOU like it doesn't mean it's good for a government (ever heard of a thing called Communism?).  And second, it's kind of hard to respect women's rights when you're KILLING THEM.  I think you need to re-examine your research, but in the mean time, check yourself into a decent mental health clinic, you sick freak.  Anyone who sympathizes for him is an outright MORON.
958611
So was Saddam Hussein for that matter.  They're very charismatic, with a black heart.  Don't let your admiration blind you.
36183
Wrong question. Ante Gotovina is not a hero. He is a war criminal.
864286
No\nWow that John is a character,Saddam payed the families of Palestinian suicide bombers,just like the government of Iran,Syria and a few others.That's not suicide bombers in Iraq.They had none and BTW they had working power and electricity