Photo alert on Yahoo:

# AP Photos is on alert for any news concerning Saddam Hussein . If and when the execution takes place, we will move a large package of file photos. We will also provide spot coverage of reactions worldwide as it becomes available. At this point it is undetermined whether there will be any still or video images of the execution.
AP via Yahoo! News - Dec 29 11:26 AM

They've probably had his obit in the can for months. Perhaps since the start of the war. They all do this. There are all kinds of obits in the deep freeze ready to bring up and thaw out when the time comes. The only thing not there in the copy is the first sentence or two. Although with people like Elizabeth Taylor, you always had to update depending on the latest number of husbands. When I was still working, it was like our own on-going ghoul pool. You'd always have the old famous people's obits prepared, but you'd also do a few more unexpecteds, like an Angelina Jolie or Britney Spears or Courtney Love - somebody who might either have an untimely accident or OD or something.

At the moment, we have MSNBC on, and they're running a Saddam special. They probably started putting it together months ago.

it was obvioous that Jerry Ford's special was canned

have misread this: "At this point it is undetermined whether there will be any still or video images of the execution."
I took it to mean they wanted people to submit photos and/or video, thus my 'ugh'.

there IS a pictorial record. Film/videotape, and, I'm sure, still photography. I'm certain they already put out oodles of calls about it, while in the process of confirming. Is it up on YouTube already? (Grimace!) Early reports I've seen indicate that the networks are leaning toward NOT showing the whole gory affair. Good. I don't need to see that. I'd guess there are MANY legitimately aggrieved Iraqis who would indeed want to see it to reassure themselves that he really and truly is gone. So I've heard in some of the coverage - as it happened when the dreaded Ouday and Qusay were killed and close-up photos of their corpses were broadcast.

"...can we film the execution?
Is the head dead yet?
Y'know the boys in the newsroom
got a running bet..."

-Don Henley, "Dirty Laundry" - a HUGE favorite of mine

It's oozing all over the place tonight.

:puke:

So let me get this straight...Yahoo will put video pictures up...and here in American we will not show live or video of an execution...ummm....