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By the time this is posted, the situation may well have entirely changed. It has been that kind of day. When our correspondents got word that the execution of Saddam Hussein was imminent, our network kicked into high gear... everyone is essentially on standby. That was many hours ago. And it may be many hours from now before we have any sense of when the execution will take place.
Trying to predict has been a confusing exercise. Our correspondent in Baghdad, Richard Engel, has done a stellar job of outlining the basic scenarios on timing and the debate now taking place on our sister blog 'Blogging Baghdad.' Richard will be updating as he can. Also worth noting is another entry on yet another sister blog, 'Hardblogger' from Lt. Col. Rick Francona and how the execution is personal for him.
As I write, we are watching live pictures of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, Calif. Former First Lady Betty Ford, her four children, seven grandchildren and one of her great-grandchildren are receiving the casket with the remains of the former President. The casket was carried past Mrs. Ford by a military honor guard. A private service for the family is taking place at the church this afternoon led by the Ford family's pastor. The family has been attending the church for years. On tonight's broadcast we will update you on the events of today.
In addition, Andrea Mitchell has a piece tonight with more revelations on the former President's thinking... what he really thought of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and wife Barbara and also former President Reagan.
We also are still watching that massive storm in Colorado. It has dumped more than a foot of snow in Denver and more than two feet in some of the surrounding areas. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, making for a tough travel situation on yet another holiday weekend. We will have the very latest tonight. See you then.
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The last word
There's been so much dirty dealing done. In the 80's we were "friends" with Sadaam so he would get rid of Ayatollah Komeini (sp?) in Iran. We gave him chemical weapons. Now he's been executed for using chemical weapons. Where does that put us? Accessories to the crime? It seems we should quit all this secret and not-so-secret dealing with other countries' to get rid of other governments we don't like. And we should mind our business at home. We need to secure our borders to keep radical Islamists from coming here. Let them stay where they are and if countries in the Middle East want democracy, let them fight for it themselves. I am tired of our country forcing our will on other countries. We need the will to work together to build up our own country. We can't keep trying to run the world.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Dec 30, 2006 11:33:28 PM)
Hey Junior it was JFK & the CIA that put Saddam in power in the first place.
(Sent Dec 30, 2006 6:30:11 AM)
It has just been announced that Sadam has been executed, but I for one do not rejoice in this execution. There is no honor here at all, or a sense of closure. The only people that can spin this into something positive are the republican cheerleading squad that has been supporting this madness ever since we went in there. If this is what it was all about, then the job is done. Bring the troops home now. I just don't see the honor of hanging an ex leader of a country, we must all be ashamed that it came down to this. The cost in lives and money were not worth it. Now I fear that we may have sealed our fate in the arab world. Bush and his neocons got what they wanted, but watch out now, the attacks on the united states and our allies should begin at anytime now. This was no way for a deposed leader to die, the troops that found him should have closed the lid on his spider hole, then drop a grenade in there. That is the way for a leader of a country to die. Don't get me wrong, I do not support Sadam or anything he did, I just can't see the honor in doing it this way. God bless america, and I only hope that Bush and Cheney go out the same way.
beaverdambob, Mesquite, Nevada (Sent Dec 29, 2006 10:48:21 PM)
Saddam's execution will probably make Osama bin Laden's day. He never liked the guy anyway. Way to go W, once again the unintended consequences of your war have aided our real ememy.
Ward Morgan, Bluefield, WV (Sent Dec 29, 2006 9:33:31 PM)
I know it's not directly related to your post but the severe weather that causes so many cancelled flights may be something that could be overcome with Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) airliners. If you think about it, the main reason for the standstill is the icy runways. VTOL aircraft don't use runways.
Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA (Sent Dec 29, 2006 5:24:01 PM)
Just a few side notes on our storms. First, thanks for getting it right - yes, we have a lot of snow, but not the multiple feet some news agencies are reporting for the city. So often the snow reports on the national news are numbers from the surrounding foothill and mountain communities, and the city did not get nearly that much. In this storm we have gotten a lot, but not the four feet I've heard about from some news agencies. Yes, I don't remember getting two storms as big of these two this close together. And yes, travel (particularly air travel) has been miserable. But...
Kudos need to be given to the front range municipalities - particularly Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. He has gone 'way above and beyond to try get the city streets clear and navigable, and have city services available to all. For the first time in the history of the city, the mayor has even managed to enlist small vehicles (4x4 trucks with snow blades) to try and clean off the residential streets. And on top of that, following the first storm had the city supply hot chocolate at a number of city parks for sledding days for the kids.
Finally, special kudos need to be given to our city and contract snow removal people, police and fire fighters, and emergency services people all up and down the front range. Most of them have been working countless hours since before Christmas and have not spent any significant holiday time with their families. We owe them a lot.
Cyd Lantz, Denver, CO (Sent Dec 29, 2006 4:59:51 PM)
ASAP! The head of saddam, before he links Rumsfeld et al / US to the chemicals/gas its alleged he used on the Kurds. Unstick us from this tarbaby ! Cleanse the hands of the BUSH CRIME FAMILY !
Junior Fredder Wallahalla MI (Sent Dec 29, 2006 4:20:22 PM)
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