Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, a CIA-asset from 1959 to 1991, was hung "by the neck until dead" somewhere in Baghdad at just before 6am this morning.

President of Iraq from 16 July 1979, Saddam was a brutal, murderous dictator until he was quickly deposed following the US-led invasion of Iraq that began 9 April 2003.

Fortunately for some, Saddam went to his grave carrying with him many secrets. Most especially, details of the workings of what had been a positive and supportive relationship with a string of US governments over a forty-year period. Saddam was America's man in the region. He was one of the many dictators about whom US government officials could say: "He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of bitch".

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.

That is, until Saddam became more of a liability than an asset.

For an overview of Saddam Hussein's relationship with the US . . . Thanks for the Memories (sung by Bing Crosby): bushwack

For those who care, Mister Bijou is against capital punishment. So it goes.