Saddam's brutality cast the dark cloud of fear and blight on the lives of Iraqis for unending decades. Theirs should be the first and foremost claim to rejoicing at his capture because it is their generations of misery that his rule leaves in its wake.

Yes, it was we Americans who overthrew the despot, and for those risking their lives in this war this is undoubtedly a good reason to celebrate. For us, on whose behalf these folks are there, it is also celebratory if their presence helps the Iraqi people build and hope.

When the American President went to war to vanquish this monster, it was evident that, given our military superiority and prowess, he would likely be killed or captured. That we were not afforded such closure upon overthrowing him was perhaps cosmically unfair but we persevered. We did manage to ferret out this demon only to find a sorry shell of a man. But there was no doubt that this was our demon, the same one that we don't remember aiding with full knowledge of his monstrosity. The one who leads us declared him to be deserving of "the ultimate penalty." I am told that our leader is a devout man, is he trying to tell us that we are witnessing a scriptural parable? Could it be that by destroying this demon we will conquer the demon within us that aided him?

--aslam

10:58:07 PM