Joe McCarthy once told ex-Wisconsin governor Phil LaFollette, and brother of Senator Robert LaFollette, Jr., McCarthy's 1946 opponent, that he had a team of men who would go about the state wearing masks of his brother. They are going to randomly bump into people, McCarthy informed an aghast LaFollette, and say things like, "Hey, who do you think you are bumping into a United States Senator?"

Today in court, Saddam Hussein played the arrogant role McCarthy imagined for his Senatorial opponent. Jail humbles many a man, but not Saddam Hussein. I don't recognize "this so-called court," Hussein announced to the courtroom. Like some pathetic descendant of European royalty, he held on to his now meaningless title despite the change of government. He was still "president of Iraq," he declared. Perhaps his boldest move was pleading not guilty. Hussein tussled with guards, interrupted the prosecution, and even told the judge: "Who are you? What is all this?" Will he act so imperious when confronted with his executioner, or Who he meets after his execution?

Amidst the many negative stories--the truly negative, and those spun that way by reverse cheerleaders in the media--the trial (which is more than Saddam afforded to the innocent) of a murderer is a definite positive outcome of the Iraq war. Future General Amins, Colonel Qaddafis, and Colonel Mengistus, take notice of new consequences for old behavior. The law can catch up with any man, even a tyrant.

where are the football pool results?? lets get to the important stuff!

Shave his head and beard, dress him in an orange jump suit, handcuff him if he refuses to be touched or restained, duct tape his mouth shut if he insists on otherwise disrupting the proceedings with his verbal spew.

In no way afford him the dignity or fairness that he's denied to so many.

Anything short of this, and he mocks us all.