Saddam Hussein has been executed.

Another former head of state has died, but unlike my statements about Gerald Ford, there will be no words of praise from me for Saddam Hussein.

It seems to me that the decision to quickly carry out the sentence once all appeals had been denied was made solely by the Iraqi government, and that could be a major factor in the weeks and months to come.

Regardless of what one thinks about capital punishment, there is now no possibility whatsoever that Saddam will ever again wield any power.