I never thought I'd see the day when the words "Saddam" and "tasteful" were in the same sentence, but that day has arrived. Word is coming from the Iraqi government that Saddam Hussein will be executed by hanging by Saturday at the latest, and they will tape the entire thing. If that happens, the networks are saying that the coverage of the execution will be tasteful, according to The Hollywood Reporter.Now, they're not doing it out of respect to Saddam, of course; they're doing it out of respect for their audience. They won't air the full video if the Iraqi government makes it available for broadcast. "We're very aware that we're coming into people's living rooms and that there could be children watching," Linda Mason, a senior VP for CBS News, told THR. Since the war started, network news executives have considered using graphic video footage on a case-by-case basis, often editing it down to make it more palatable to audiences.
(Update: Embedded below is reportedly a video of Saddam's hanging.)
By the way, in looking for the picture above of South Park's version of Saddam, I came across this funny article from over the summer. Apparently, Matt Stone and Trey Parker were told that Saddam's Marine guards made him watch his scenes from Bigger, Longer and Uncut repeatedly. Remember in the movie, Saddam was the Devil's girlfriend and talked in a high-pitched, squeaky voice. It's too bad the Iraqi government doesn't want to do that for a few more months before the execution; seems like it was a good way to drive the guy nuts.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-29-2006 @ 3:34PM
David004 said...
So I'm gonig to have to go to YouTube to see him die? Damnit!
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12-29-2006 @ 3:49PM
waiting4WW3 said...
what exactly do they hope to gain by executing this clown and making him a martyr??
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12-29-2006 @ 4:08PM
David004 said...
He's guity, he must die, this is how the Iraqis do things.
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12-29-2006 @ 4:36PM
edd said...
lol, networks and tasteful in the same sentence. Where's the exclamation mark in the headline?
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12-29-2006 @ 10:18PM
Warren D said...
Now we have a precedent whereby a foreign government, lead by a fundamentalist idiot, can, on the basis of made-up information, invade a sovereign country and have it's leader executed.
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12-29-2006 @ 11:46PM
Kaja Mohideen said...
Saddam Hussein is given Death Sentence for killing 148 people of his own land. What judgment will be given to Bush who is killing thousands of his men in other countries by name of War...
No one is questioning him...
But definitely, HE WILL BE BURNT BADLY IN HELL FIRE...
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12-30-2006 @ 1:11PM
jason said...
the bloke deserves all he gets.all the horror and death he put on people and finally he got justice.i look forward to seeing the vidio of his hanging
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12-30-2006 @ 3:51PM
Teresa Knight said...
I have been searching You Tube for the actual video and have not been able to find the actual video there. I personally think it would be good for our country to have this kind of closure. Yes, this is graphic, yes, this is not suitable for children; however will it have a lasting effect on those watching. The only answer is: Yes
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12-30-2006 @ 6:25PM
Cee said...
What has happened to this country. It's horrible. When did liberals take over, how is it that liberals can have more sympathy for a mad man like Saddam, who raped and tortured thousands and thousands of people, but attempt to make Bush into some sort of devilman because they (liberals) are still boo hoo, crying that Gore didn't win in 2000.
Get your priorities and your facts straight. I for one will be watching with glee the video of his execution. There is still some Justice left in this world.
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12-30-2006 @ 6:44PM
Cee said...
here's the video
http://one.revver.com/watch/130549
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12-31-2006 @ 3:46AM
mike cotie said...
I want to see the BASTARD swinging, come on net works show us the beef !!!!!!
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12-31-2006 @ 5:37AM
kim said...
not a very good vid still enjoyed watching the end of a very wicked bastard
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12-31-2006 @ 8:10PM
mike h said...
we are as bad ashim. well at least we are not as bad as bush.
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1-02-2007 @ 5:20PM
andrew m said...
Does anyone else think the audio of Saddam being hung sounds like a bowling pin strike?
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1-02-2007 @ 10:35PM
Stigmata said...
Whilst i agree there is no denying that saddam was a monster and killed many many people, but so is president bush!
The only difference is that bush was elected by the rednecks, oops, american people.
He is a warmonger and has directly and indirectly caused the deaths of thousands. They should both hang from the same gallow.
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1-09-2007 @ 10:52AM
Shane Matthews said...
Kaja, are you saying those 148 people are the only ones Saddam killed? Last time I checked, it was closer to a million. And frankly, I don't care how many people Bush has to kill. Whatever number he has to kill to make Islamists understand that terrorism will not be tolerated is the right number. And only the Islamists, and to a lesser degree Muslims in general, are in a position to change that number. Ideally it would be zero. Of course, the situation at present is far from ideal.
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1-09-2007 @ 10:59AM
Shane Matthews said...
Stigmata, Saddam fed his political enemies feet-first into industrial shredders, and immolated entire hamlets without mercy. The great majority of the casualties in Iraq have been Iraqi-inflicted. To compare Bush with Saddam shows moral relativity gone mad, along with the worst form of intellectual dishonesty and more than a few delusions thrown in.
Your problem is that you set a higher standard of conduct for Bush than you do for Saddam. That tells us more about you than it does about Bush.
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