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Alpha Stage
A Video of Saddam
January 2, 2007






The L.A. Times is running a story entitled, “Iraq PM Orders Probe into
Saddam Video.” The article begins, “The prime minister on Tuesday
ordered an investigation into the conduct of Saddam Hussein's execution
in a bid to learn who among the witnesses taunted the former Iraqi leader
in the last minutes of his life, then leaked a cell phone video.”

Unlike the official video of the execution, this leaked video shows the
actual moment when Hussein was pushed through the gallows’ floor and
broke his neck. As Saddam Hussein was hung on Saturday, individuals
within the death chamber shouted, “Muqtada,” referring to Muqtada al
Sadr, the radical Shiite leader who pushed for the quick execution of
Hussein.
Read the Article

In case you want to see it, here's the video.


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children:

  • Ask: Why would somebody want to take a picture of something?

  • Inquire: Are there some things that pictures should not be taken
    of? What? Why/why not?

  • Do your child(ren) think that it is OK to laugh at somebody being
    punished for doing something wrong? Why/why not?

  • Would your child(ren) prefer to look at pictures or watch a
    movie? Why?

Discussion-Starters for Older Students:

  • Vocabulary Terms to Discuss: Taunt; Torment; Execution; and,
    Clandestine.

  • Not everybody agrees that capital punishment is an appropriate
    punishment for criminals. Do your child (ren) think that capital
    punishment should be legal? Do you? Why/why not? If capital
    punishment is legal who should be eligible to receive this
    punishment? Somebody who steals a dollar? Somebody who
    murders 10 innocent people? Where is the line drawn between
    who can and who cannot be executed?

  • Pose: Imagine that Saddam Hussein had looked at you the night
    before he was put to death and asked for forgiveness. How would
    you have responded? Why?

  • Inquire: Most people who live in the United States agree that
    Saddam Hussein did horrible things as the ruler of Iraq. But,
    people also acknowledge that the there was more law and order
    under Hussein than there is today in Iraq. Today, however, Iraq’s
    leaders have been elected democratically and Iraqis are freer to
    behave as they choose. These free Iraqis live in constant fear of
    violence. If you had to compare the situation in Iraq before
    Hussein’s overthrow to the situation that exists in the country
    now, which situation would you say is better? Why?
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