Martyrdom

Robert Pelton at the new IraqSlogger points out

As the UK and European papers point out--Why not let Saddam live out a life of poverty and ridicule? Penniless and shamed. Like Valentine Strasser, the former 25-year leader of Sierra Leone who lives with his mother in Freetown, a fallen dictator who was spared daily stonings due to the appeal to citizens by a former president. Or Pol Pot of Cambodia who died in hiding sick and unknown. His body burned to ashes. Saddam should be left to crumble like the cheap stucco of his palaces and tinny statues sold as scrap.

The most disturbing fate for Saddam would be to live as a lonely, impoverished old man who must face the wrath of the nation he once ruled. The show of theater that was his trial and the global focus on his execution has simply created a martyr for future Iraqi nationalists to embrace.

"To live as a lonely, impoverished old man who must face the wrath of the nation he once ruled." Here's hoping W lives a long, long time, in Crawford after he leaves the White House, abandoned by his party, his dad's business partners, and his dreams of triumph. And I hope every day of his life contains some evidence, however small, that America considers him a loser and a liar.

I honestly hope the fucker lives to be a hundred and one--maybe then he'll be convinced that history is never going to vindicate him.

On Saddam

From Josh Marshall:

The Iraq War has been many things, but for its prime promoters and cheerleaders and now-dwindling body of defenders, the war and all its ideological and literary trappings have always been an exercise in moral-historical dress-up for a crew of folks whose times aren't grand enough to live up to their own self-regard and whose imaginations are great enough to make up the difference. This is just more play-acting.

Yes. And it's not as if there weren't real challenges that could have been addressed.

Osama who?

Slushy the Styroman

More environmentally friendly daffiness:

It Won't Snow

My friend Laura Freeman and her friend channel two old Jewish ladies singing about how global warming screws up the holidays.

I'd embed it, but YouTube says I'm ineligible to sign up as a member for some reason. TOo high a regard for copyright law, no doubt.

Famous relatives

My cousin's book is getting some book-blog attention:

Joel Schorn, a Chicago editor and writer, thinks there is a direct connection between the humility of these men and the extravagant fruit of their ministry. His new book about them is called God’s Doorkeepers. Andre Bessette and Solanus Casey were literally doorkeepers; they were porters at the doors of their religious communities. Padre Pio’s door was the door to his confessional. Miraculous healings of the spirit and body are associated with all three of them. Writes Schorn: “God waits patiently for us, just as Solanus and Andre waited at their porter stations and Pio waited in the confessional. . . . We are all afflicted in some way. If we only turn to God, God will turn to us in a healing way.”

Not surprisingly, humble people don't get as many books written about them as self-promoters. My cousin has written the perfect antidote to At the Center of the Storm.