Saddam’s Former Deputy Hanged in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP)
The former deputy in Saddam Hussein’s government was hanged before dawn Tuesday for the killings of 148 Shiites, an official with the prime minister’s office said. Taha Yassin Ramadan, who was Saddam’s vice president when the regime was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion that began four years ago Tuesday in Iraq, was the fourth man to be executed in the killings of 148 Shiites following a 1982 assassination attempt against the former leader in the town of Dujail north of Baghdad.
The official, who witnessed the hanging but spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made, said precautions had been taken to prevent a repeat of what happened to Saddam’s half brother and co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim, who was inadvertently decapitated on the gallows.
Ramadan, who was nearly 70, was weighed before the hanging and the length of the rope was chosen accordingly, the official said.
The execution took place at an Iraqi army and police base, which had been the headquarters of Saddam’s military intelligence, in a predominantly Shiite district in northern Baghdad. Ramadan had been in U.S. custody but was handed over to the Iraqis before the hanging, the official said.

Wild Thing’s comment…….
They hanged him on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. This is symbolic – a reminder of who is in charge. God bless our troops!