The Hanging of Saddam Hussein

The sight of Saddam on the gallows surrounded by hooded men conjured the same feelings of horror, disappointment, despair, frustration and rage I've experienced on previous occasions when confronted by images of hapless captives being despatched by anonymous brutes. They've achieved the impossible - compassion for Saddam, and, less difficult, an increase in the sense of bitter betrayal felt by the rest of us. As an act its a triumph of dishonesty, evil and stupidity over mass dissent and as far away from the democracy its claimed to herald as its possible to be.