Death of Saddam: TV?

Lise · Dec 29 06 09:13

How morbid are you if you want to watch his death? Anyways, it's over and done with. May the souls of those he tortured and murdered be at peace.

[FONT size=5]TV networks hold tense death watch for Saddam Hussein[/FONT]

[SPAN class=dateline]LOS ANGELES[/SPAN][SPAN class=dateline-separator] - [/SPAN]TV news channels played a tense waiting game Friday as they ticked off the final hours of Saddam Hussein's life, replaying scenes from the Iraqi dictator's life as they waited for his death.

Saddam's hanging Friday night ended a day of U.S. TV reporting fraught with uncertainty and speculation about whether his execution was imminent.

"The situation seems to be one of tremendous flux, but you and your viewers already know that," Feisal Istrabad, Iraq's deputy ambassador to the United States said on CNN about four hours before Saddam's death.

At about 7:15 p.m. PST Friday, NBC broke into regular programming with a special report announcing Hussein's execution. NBC attributed the news to three "very credible" Arabic language news stations.

A few minutes later, Katie Couric made the announcement for CBS, also breaking into programming.

"Saddam Hussein is dead. We have just received word that the former president of Iraq has been executed. No details yet, but Iraqi authorities said they were planning to videotape the death," Couric said.

She then went to correspondent Randall Pinkston. Pinkston said they were told by one of Saddam Hussein's lawyers that the execution was carried out just before 10 p.m. Eastern time.

ABC issued its report shortly before 7:30 p.m. PST, citing a senior military official in Baghdad.

Reports on cable channels Fox News Channel and CNN cited Arab language news stations.

After Saddam's death, debate turned to whether footage, if made available, would be shown.

"We will be bringing those images to you as appropriate," said CNN's Anderson Cooper, who said that video and still photos had been taken of the execution but would be reviewed by the channel before airing.

"We won't be showing anything too graphic," he said.

[A href="vny!://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16348632.htm"][FONT size=1]vny!://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16348632.htm[/FONT][/A]

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Russ · Dec 29 06 09:21

I heard about this as well... Alot of people were complaining cause they couldnt watch it on pay per view lol.

No matter what, I wouldnt want to watch somebody die...

I too wish the people whom he tortured, killed, and lived in fear; feel relief by his execution

kingy · Dec 29 06 09:26

if it was on ppv, i dont think there is any doubt in my mind that it would be the highest drawing tv audience ever. even it wasnt saddam and some joe blow, it would still do pretty good ratings. that is why the news show live car chases, because there is an appetite for stuff like that.

weird al · Dec 29 06 10:26

Of course it's nice to see him go....couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

But, by jumping the gun and doing it so quick, they've wasted his last days, just like with the Ceausescus.

They should have put the Ceausescus on tour, Saddam too.

As for watching somebody die, I wouldn't want to be a voyeur - unless the person in question caused anyone close to me to suffer.

Gopher · Dec 30 06 02:31

I wouldn't want to watch anyone, die full stop.

Lise · Dec 30 06 06:03

I'm the same. They keep showing a images of him being led to the hanging but stop short of the actual deed. Very disturbing.... *shivers*. And what's more morbid, they're even talking about what a person will go through the moment the noose tightens around your neck. Apparently your heart still beats after ten minutes into the hanging but you're brain dead. YUCK.

Gopher · Dec 30 06 11:19

Whilst not showing the actual execution, the continuous repeats of the images at the scaffold are distasteful to say the least.

Russ · Dec 30 06 11:23

Theres people offering a decent sum of money on the net for the complete video of him, inlcuding the dangling at the end like an old sock.

Gopher · Dec 30 06 11:34

Just shows how the rich waste their money.

Lise · Dec 30 06 01:40

Ugh. The world is so morbid. To buy a segment of Saddam's execution footage is horrible. And yes, Gopher, I agree. Those shots of him about to be hanged are too repetitious. Kinda like 9/11.

Russ · Dec 30 06 04:34

Wanna see sadam hang?

[A href="vny!://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw2hd_video-complete-pendaison-saddam"]vny!://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw2hd_video-complete-pendaison-saddam[/A]

Not the best quality, and the person with the camera drops it a few times.. but here it is.

Lise · Dec 30 06 04:38

I clicked on it and saw it for like one second before I turned it off completely. As much as I'm curious to know what happened, it was too much for me.

Russ · Dec 30 06 04:46

According to people that are in the 'know' with hangings, the executioners screwed up.

The rope was put tothe side too far forward on his head.. and 2 minutes into him dangling he opened his mouth momentarily.

I couldnt watch it completely Lise, I fast forwarded it a few times, saw him drop and jerk, and that was about it. Im back to playing GTA III

Lise · Dec 30 06 05:04

Creeeeeeepy, nonetheless. What's even creepier is to see a whole bunch of people celebrating his death like it's some national holiday. I mean, I know he's done a bunch of really bad stuff but to celebreate his death..... seems so wrong.

Are you playing GTA? tenkani was into that stuff at one point. Which one are you playing?

Russ · Dec 30 06 05:08

Well, while I agree with you Lise, others who were directly affected by him or his actions seem to be happy.

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My cousin came over and turned it on. I havent play xbox in about two weeks.

We were playing medal of honour earlier